Heavy Metal Removal Methods from Water and Wastewater: A Review Study

Heavy metals are refractory pollutants that do not decompose in nature and can be released into the environment by sewage or wastewater from various industries. Usually, trace amounts of these metals are required for the normal functioning of the body. However, their excessive intake can cause poisoning in the body. The purpose of this research was to review various physical, chemical, and biological methods for the removal of heavy metals.

In this paper, the relevant articles between 2014 and 2019 were searched in databases such as Springer، Science Direct, Scopus, Freepaper, and John Wiley to obtain the latest findings on heavy metal removal methods.

Studies show that heavy metals can affect human health, so their removal is essential. Various physical, chemical, and biological methods for the removal of heavy metals include membrane filtration, chemical precipitation, electrochemical purification, ion exchange, adsorption, and bioremediation.

The results of studies showed that heavy metals have destructive effects and they are necessary to be removed from water and soil. The advantages and disadvantages of heavy metal removal methods make it possible to choose the right method in terms of costs and availability of technical knowledge. Type of paper: Review paper