Immobilization of Heavy Metals and Stable Organics from Aqueous Systems on Modified Activated Carbon

The negative impact of contamination with heavy metals and stable, hazardous organics, on the one hand and the presence of these contaminants in the human body, on the other hand have been the matter of an increasing concern in the last decades. Exploiting available, although limited resources for designing new methods designated to contaminants’ immobilization without generation of additional risk was studied by a Moldavian–Romanian joint team. Active Carbons (AC) obtained from fruit processing waste, as nut shells and plum stones were oxidized to forms with significant ion exchange capacity. The Oxidized Active Carbons (OAC) were characterized and used to selectively adsorb heavy metal ions (as Cadmium – Cd, Copper– Cu and Lead – Pb) or hazardous organics (as ortho-Nitroaniline – ONA). The adsorbent capacity and selectivity was different when adsorbents of different origin were used and also when the adsorption process was applied to mono- or multi-component solution.