Simultaneous removal of lead and cadmium ions from simulant and industrial waste water: using plant materials as sorbents.

The merit of this investigation is that simple and effective bio-sorbents based on plant materials with high sorption capacities, are developed for the simultaneous removal of the toxic Pb and Cd at neutral or nearly neutral pHs. These sorbents are successful in water remediation of Pb and Cd ions from real effluents from industries. These findings have great significance as the identified bio-sorbents are simple, effective and renewable in extracting highly toxic lead and cadmium ions from the effluents from industries or polluted water.