Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
https://hdl.handle.net/10216/106087
Author(s): | Sílvia Santos Gabriela Ungureanu Rui Boaventura Cidália Botelho |
Title: | Selenium contaminated waters: An overview of analytical methods, treatment options and recent advances in sorption methods |
Issue Date: | 2015 |
Abstract: | Selenium is an essential trace element for many organisms, including humans, but it is bioaccumulative and toxic at higher than homeostatic levels. Both selenium deficiency and toxicity are problems around the world. Mines, coal-fired power plants, oil refineries and agriculture are important examples of anthropogenic sources, generating contaminated waters and wastewaters. For reasons of human health and ecotoxicity, selenium concentration has to be controlled in drinking-water and in wastewater, as it is a potential pollutant of water bodies. This review article provides firstly a general overview about selenium distribution, sources, chemistry, toxicity and environmental impact. Analytical techniques used for Se determination and speciation and water and wastewater treatment options are reviewed. In particular, published works on adsorption as a treatment method for Se removal from aqueous solutions are critically analyzed. Recent published literature has given particular attention to the development and search for effective adsorbents, including low-cost alternative materials. Published works mostly consist in exploratory findings and laboratory-scale experiments. Binary metal oxides and LDHs (layered double hydroxides) have presented excellent adsorption capacities for selenium species. Unconventional sorbents (algae, agricultural wastes and other biomaterials), in raw or modified forms, have also led to very interesting results with the advantage of their availability and low-cost. Some directions to be considered in future works are also suggested. |
URI: | https://hdl.handle.net/10216/106087 |
Related Information: | info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia/Projetos Estratégicos/UID/EQU/50020/2013- POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006984/Laboratório de Processos de Separação e Reação - Laboratório de Catálise e Materiais/LSRE-LCM info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/Autoridade de Gestão do Programa Operacional Regional do Norte/Programas Integrados de IC&DT/NORTE-07-0124-FEDER-000008/Environmental Technologies /LSRE/LCM LA - RL1_P3 |
Document Type: | Artigo em Revista Científica Internacional |
Rights: | restrictedAccess |
Appears in Collections: | FEUP - Artigo em Revista Científica Internacional |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | |
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189672.pdf Restricted Access | 612.38 kB | Adobe PDF | Request a copy from the Author(s) |
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