One of the main residues of the Brazilian agribusiness has shown potential to be used to clean polluted water with concentration of potentially toxic metals. The sugarcane bagasse has provided a material with magnetic nanoparticles for removal of copper and chromium from the water. Brazilian researchers say that the high use of copper turns out to be led to reservoirs of water for human consumption. High concentrations of copper can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The sugarcane bagasse composite removes the contaminant from the aqueous solution by the action of a magnet through an adsorption process. “Its hybrid nature allows the materials proposed in the work to be versatile. That reinforces its potential for the treatment of water and effluents”, said the researchers. The study has been developed at the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar) using biomass as biosorbents, a viable and efficient option for decontamination in aquatic environments.
Source: Revista Dinheiro Rural
*Translated by Ia Niani