Biomass-derived zirconium composite: An adsorbent for preferential removal of heavy metals and contaminants in wastewater

Heavy metal ion pollution has become a more serious issue that has negatively impacted both the environment and human health. The development of a simple and workable method for removing heavy metal ions from wastewater was essential. This study focuses on the development of a biomass-derived zirconium composite as an effective adsorbent for the targeted removal of heavy metal ions and other contaminants in water treatment. The optimal removal efficiency for Zn (II), Cu (II), Ni (II), Hg (II), Cd (II), and Pb (II) was achieved at varying pH levels. The Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm model was applied to determine the adsorption capacities of these metal ions, specifically for Zn (II), Cu (II), Ni (II), Hg (II), Cd (II), and Pb (II). The continuous adsorptiondesorption cycle results showed that the biomass-derived zirconium composite can be reused after ion recovery using various solutions. The regenerated composite maintained its efficiency over multiple cycles, meeting the growing demand for water resource purification. This review highlights the potential of biomass-derived zirconium composite and their significant role in advancing sustainable environmental solutions.