Removal of selected heavy metals from aqueous solutions using processed solid residue of olive mill products

The potential use of processed solid residue of olive mill products (SROOMP) to treat drinking water containing several heavy metals in trace concentrations, namely Cr(III), Ni(II), Pb(II), Cd(II), and Zn(II), was explored. Different experimental approaches including equilibrium batch mode experiments, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) were used to explore the feasibility of this material as an adsorbent for the removal of these heavy metals from aqueous solutions. Results indicate that SROOMP can be used to remove Pb(II) and Zn(II) from aqueous solutions by adsorption (data best fit Fruenlich isotherm) but does not remove the other heavy metals investigated in this study.