Removal of heavy metals from pharmaceutical wastewater by adsorption using agricultural waste: A review

Because of the large development of pharmaceutical industries, enormous quantity of fresh water is being utilized for the processes and generates large amount of wastewater. This wastewater contains many pollutants of which heavy metals are one among them. Heavy metals can be treated by different methods and adsorption is considered to be effective method for the treatment of the pollutants. Due to high cost of activated carbon, locally available agricultural waste materials are used for producing the adsorbent. In the present review, the characteristics of the pharmaceutical wastewater are investigated. The study also deals with the different heavy metals such as cobalt, iron, copper, lead, cadmium, zinc, nickel and chromium its nature, source and harmful effects. It also describes the various agricultural waste materials used for the removal of heavy metals and the adsorption capacity obtained.