Researchers Filter Heavy Metals From Water Using Plant Waste

A team of scientists discovered that proteins derived from the byproducts of vegetable oil manufacturing have strong adsorption capabilities, turning heavy metal-polluted water into safe drinking water that meets international standards.

Led by Prof. Ali Miserez from Nanyang Technology University (NTU) in Singapore and NTU Visiting Prof. Raffaele Mezzenga from ETH Zurich in Switzerland, the team used a cost-effective, low-power, sustainable process to create protein-based membranes from peanut or sunflower oil waste byproducts. Despite being green and cheap, the membrane successfully filters up to 99.89 percent of heavy metals during tests involving three heavy metal pollutants like chromium, lead, and platinum. Based on the results, the membranes are most effective for lead and platinum, then chromium.

Researchers achieved this by producing nano-sized protein amyloid fibrils using the extracted proteins from oilseed meals derived from sunflower and peanut oils, then combining them with activated carbon to create a hybrid membrane. With this composition, the protein-based membrane’s amyloid fibrils, which contain amino acid bonds, effectively trap heavy metal ions and chemicals like perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

They also pointed out that burning used membranes will extract trapped metals like platinum, which can be recycled and used for creating new electronic devices and equipment.

Read the full article here to learn more about this sustainable process of purifying contaminated water.

As heavy metals continue polluting the environment, finding more effective ways to provide safe drinking water remains challenging. Aqua Solutions welcomes this innovation, and we remain committed to delivering tried-and-tested water purification solutions that you can explore by browsing our inventory at www.aqua.com.