Peat as an Adsorbent for Water Purification in Developing Countries
Many people in developing countries do not have access to clean and sanitized water. The bulk of water shortage and water pollution problems are located in rural areas. In 2012, close to 750 million people, most of who live in developed countries do not have access to clean water (UNICEF, 2012).
The implications of this are fatal. Unclean water may lead to the spread of water-borne diseases such as cholera and typhoid. Heavy metals are one of the main water pollutants in developing countries. Heavy metals pose a threat to both the environment and humans as they cannot be degraded. These heavy metals form complexes in the human body which leads to its toxicity.
BACKGROUND
Water Pollution
Lead and Zinc mining is one of the main causes of heavy metal pollution in developing countries (Zhang et al. 2011). Heavy metals such as lead and zinc have been released into the environment due to poor mining practices. Organisms and humans that depend on water from water bodies may suffer from lead and zinc poisoning when consuming the water.
Long term exposure to lead may lead to acute lead poisoning which causes memory deterioration (Jarup, 2003). Ingestion of large amounts of zinc are cytotoxic to humans and may lead to gastrointestinal effects, such as and vomiting. (Plum et al. 2010).
Pollutants- Lead and Zinc
Current methods of removing heavy metal ions from water sources include precipitation and electrochemical deposition (Barakat, 2011). However, these metods are infeasible in rural areas due to its high cost and complex technology.
Hence, an alternative method is needed. A potential adsorbent to remove metal ions in wastewater would be Sphagnum moss peat. Peat is a complex organic material formed from the partially decomposed residue of plants. It is mostly composed of lignin and cellulose. Its eco-friendliness and widespread availability in many countries makes it a . Studies have shown the potential peat has an adsorbent. Peat bears polar functional groups, such as aldehydes, ketones and phenolic hydroxides that can be chelate with metal ions. The polar characteristics of peat make the specific adsorption potential of heavy metals and polar organic molecules quite high (Jenny, 2006).
Peat as an Adsorbent
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