Walnut shell, an essential agricultural-horticultural byproduct, serves as an effective bio-absorbent for heavy metals in water

Title : Walnut shell, an essential agricultural-horticultural byproduct, serves as an effective bio-absorbent for heavy metals in water

Abstract:

Walnut shells, an essential agricultural-horticultural byproduct, effectively absorb heavy metals from water, which is crucial for public health due to the toxicity of these metals. Given their unique properties, walnut shells offer an environmentally friendly solution for metal removal. Industrial and agricultural activities have widely dispersed heavy metals, contaminating the environment and the human food chain. Bio-absorbents provide a cost-effective method for extracting these metals. This study explored the potential of walnut shells to adsorb heavy metals from polluted water. Walnut shells were collected in autumn 2023 from Fars province in Iran, and the concentrations of various heavy metals were analyzed using ICP-MASS. The shells were examined for their adsorption capacity in a batch system, considering factors such as contact time, absorbent quantity, and particle size. The study found that increasing the dose of walnut shells and extending contact time significantly enhanced heavy metal adsorption. Walnut shells demonstrated a high capacity for accumulating heavy metals, effectively reducing water contamination.

Biography:

Dr. Fatemehsadat Mirmohammadmakki received her PhD in “Food industrial engineering and science - Food Chemistry” in 2021 from Islamic Azad University, Sciences and Research Branch. She then joined the research group at the same institution. Her research focuses on agricultural products, edible oils, and extracts, with a specialization in biosorbents for reducing heavy metals in food, soil, and wastewater. Also, she is researcher of Medical Ethics and Law Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. A lecturer and researcher, she has contributed to sustainable pollution control and has published over 10 research articles and participated in more than 50 national and international conferences.