Binding of heavy metal ions to fibers and filters from poultry feathers

摘要

Accumulation of heavy metals from natural and/or from industrial sources by into streams or lakes can have serious environmental consequences. Filtration systems which use high affinity particles to remove heavy metal are inherently slow. Feather fibers and feather fiber filters have high affinity sites for different anions including copper(II) and iron(II) and specific cations like chromium(IV)> Filters made from high affinity, high surface area fibers may remove specific heavy metals at higher flow rates than particle based filters.