Cassava use for environmental purpose: Removal of metal species from water

Abstract

The adsorption phenomena were addressed in this chapter as the main mechanism to remove toxic metal species from water. This way, metal species will adsorb onto a specific surface, which can be a synthetic material surface such as silica, cellulose, titania or natural material as cassava husks. So, the present chapter will provide the reader another possible use of cassava. Despite its beneficial effects over health it may also be applied successfully in the removal of metals from water due to its chemical composition, which include nitrogen, oxygen and sulphur atoms. Chemical investigation was performed in order to identify organic groups, which are able to complex metal species in solution, and a detailed material preparation procedure was described. The batch experiments described may be applied to any other material. Although the material may be easily applied due to the simplicity of the technique, household applications are not encouraged once several chemical analysis are necessary prior to its safe use and to attest its good functioning.