SUGARCANE BAGASSE IS AN EFFECTIVE ABSORBENT FOR THE REMOVAL OF

LEAD AND MERCURY FROM UNTREATED WASTEWATER IN DUEÑAS, ILOILO.

Carl Antonette P. Aujero

Khloe Jeanne D. Bestuir

Reanne Nicole P. Pasquin

 Chapter 2

Review of Related Literature

Chapter 2 includes three parts: (1) Sugarcane Bagasse, (2) Lead and Mercury, and (3)

Summary.

Part one, Sugarcane Bagasse

Part two, Lead and mercury

Part three, Summary

Sugarcane Bagasse

Sugarcane or sugar cane is a species of tall, perennial grass that is used for sugar

production. The plants are 2–6 m tall with stout, jointed, fibrous stalks rich in sucrose,

accumulating in the stalk internodes. Bagasse is the dry pulpy fibrous material that remains

after crushing sugarcane or sorghum stalks to extract their juice. It is used as a biofuel for

producing heat, energy, and electricity, and in manufacturing pulp and building materials.

Bagasse, otherwise known as sugarcane pulp, is a by-product of the sugarcane

industry. It is the fibrous substance that is left behind after the juice of the sugarcane plant

is harvested. Up until recently, bagasse was usually disposed of or left to rot.

SCB had a maximum adsorption capacity of 9.41 mg g1 at 45 °C after 24 hours of

contact. Adsorption kinetics data more closely matched the pseudo-second-order model,

demonstrating the involvement of a chemical process. For adjusting the data obtained for

the adsorption isotherms, Sips’ three-parameter isotherm model performed better, indicating

a heterogeneous adsorption process (Siqueira, et al 2020). Therefore, it was concluded that

SCB presented as a potential biosorbent material for the treatment of MB-contaminated

waters.
 Sugarcane bagasse as a sorbent for heavy metals removal. The utilization of unmodified

or modified SB as an adsorbent has been described as a cheaper and more effective

technology for the removal of metal ions from wastewater.

The removal efficiency of U-SCB samples increased with increasing temperature.

Temperatures above 50 C had little effect, and further increases had little effect. The ions of

copper with increasing initial ion concentration, removal efficiency also decreased. It was

the Langmuir isotherm model was found to be the best fit for the adsorption of copper ions

(Yam, et al 2019). In the Langmuir isotherm, the maximum monolayer adsorption capacity

was 0.523, 2.006, and 0.938 for U-SCB, HCl-SCB, and M-SCB. It was determined that the

SCB modification was effective. Cu(II) removal efficiency was improved from 71.6% to

98.75% using HCl.

In the last decades, various methods have been utilized for the treatment of water,

such as chemical precipitation, solvent extraction, membrane filtration, ion exchange, and

coagulation. Traditional water treatment methods are deficient for some reasons including

high cost, non-selectivity, time-consuming, and complicated operation. Based on the use of

industrial wastes, new solid phase extraction (SPE) techniques have been introduced.

Several studies have been performed on industrial by-products such as fly ash, iron slags,

titanium oxide, sawdust, and bagasse fly ash.

The mentioned leftover by-products can be physically and/or chemically modified to

improve their ad-sorption efficiencies to remove heavy metals from contaminated water.

Many cane sugar factories had to face adversities in wasting the bagasse, which emerges

from the mill station after juice extraction. Almost all of the companies that produce raw

sugar from cane sugar exploit some initiatives to gain from their waste in downstream

industries including ethanol production, paper production, cattle feed and fuel, bioelectricity

generation, and bioplastic product.

 The Freundlich isotherm equation following the Langmuir isotherm was well-fitted by

the lead adsorption on dithizone-modified bagasse (Shiralipour, et al 2018). The main

benefits of this adsorbent are its high efficiency over a short period, recyclability, and

biodegradability. The suggested approach is economical and safe for the environment.

The adsorption system provided a maximum adsorption capacity of 4.43 mg/g. Tests

showed independent adsorption properties when compared with the column flow rates. The

treatment units could be operated with flexibility. From the results, it was possible to

conclude that sugar cane bagasse could be an adequate bio-adsorbent. The results showed

that the removal of congo red was 94±5% while the removal of other dyes, probable Indigo

Blue, was 54±4% adsorbent studies were an efficient remover of the Congo Red Dye, as

well as of other dyes which could be used for the textile effluents treatment as industrial

scale (Raymundo, et. al,2010).

Sugarcane bagasse (SCB) is the major by-product of the sugar cane industry; it is one

of the largest agricultural residues in the world. It is a fibrous residue of sugarcane stalks

left over after crushing and extracting sugarcane juice. About 54 million tons of dry SCB are

produced annually worldwide and huge amounts of SCB are burned in the fields, resulting in

a serious pollution problem. Furthermore, SCB is an abundant, inexpensive, and promising

type of industrial waste with lignin cellulose and polymeric structure (50% cellulose, 25%

hemicellulose, and 25% lignin) [9]. Thus, the utilization of this agricultural waste as a low-

cost adsorbent could provide a two-fold advantage concerning environmental pollution.

Firstly, the volume of by-products could be partly reduced, and secondly, the low-cost

adsorbent could reduce the pollution of wastewater at a reasonable cost. Therefore, it was

concluded that SCB presented as a potential biosorbent material for the treatment of MB-

contaminated waters. (Siqueira, et al (2020),

 Lead and Mercury

Lead has the chemical symbol Pb and the atomic number 82. It is a heavy metal with a

higher density than most other materials. Lead is soft and malleable, and it has a low

melting point. Lead is a shiny gray with a hint of blue when freshly cut. When exposed to

air, it tarnishes to a dull gray color. Mercury has the chemical symbol Hg and the atomic

number 80. It was previously known as hydrargyrum, derived from the Greek words hydro

and Argyros.

Heavy metals are toxic to humans. Two of the most common and widely studied of

these metals are lead and mercury, both of which are highly toxic to the developing brain

and nervous system. Excessive exposure can begin in the intrauterine period, leading to

adverse effects at birth. Lead and mercury are elements that occur naturally in the earth's

crust and are common environmental contaminants. Because people who are concerned

about potential exposure to these elements frequently seek medical advice, clinicians must

be aware of the signs and symptoms of lead and mercury poisoning, how to investigate a

possible exposure, and when intervention is required (Brodkin, E., et al 2006).

We present three cases of patients who visited an occupational medicine specialist

because they were concerned about heavy metal toxicity. These cases are used to

demonstrate some of the issues associated with the investigation of possible lead and

mercury exposures. We go over the most common sources of exposure, the signs and

symptoms of lead and mercury poisoning, and how to use chelation therapy correctly.

(Gazonato Neto et al., 2018)

Metal toxicity, whether isolated or in mixtures, involves changes in biochemical

processes as well as cell membranes, which can have negative short- and long-term effects

on the organisms affected. Cadmium and mercury stand out among metals due to their

abundance in nature, frequent use in industrial processes, and biological accumulation, with
high levels of residence in trophic chains. Because metals typically accumulate in sediments,

benthic communities are especially vulnerable to metal pollution.

For centuries, metal artisans have used lead and mercury in their settings. Exposure to

these toxic heavy metals has negative health consequences. In Thimphu, Bhutan, we

assessed the occupational exposure of metal artisans and their high-risk household contacts.

The prevalence of elevated blood mercury levels among artisans is concerning. (Monger &

Wangdi, 2020) To reduce exposure, advocacy, proper use of personal protective equipment,

awareness of chemical safety, and the hazards associated with lead and mercury usage are

required.

Heavy metals (HMs) are among the most dangerous toxicants because they enter the

soil.

and accumulate in the food chain via various routes. As a result, HMs cause soil issues.

integrity, as well as in the plant, animal, and human health. Is a major crop. Used in animal

production all over the world. Furthermore, because of its ability to absorb nitrogen, It

boosts soil productivity by using symbiotic bacteria strains. However, there have been few

studies. The effects of HMs on alfalfa plants are being studied, as well as potential solutions.

(Jócsák et al., 2022). The findings of the reviewed studies show that HM pollution poses

significant risks to alfalfa production. The stress effects of HMs reduce crop biomass,

resulting in less forage, which has a negative impact on production. Furthermore, the health

consequences of consuming HM-contaminated crops are a major concern. Some HMs are

extremely toxic, but high concentrations of less toxic HMs can also be hazardous to one's

health.

Lead is used as a shielding material and in lead acid batteries, coloring agents, paints,

smelters, and printing presses. It is a toxic metal that affects many organs and the

developing fetus. Acute lead poisoning occurs in humans when exposed to high doses, and
chronic lead poisoning can be fatal when lead accumulates in the body gradually through

continuous exposure to small amounts. It affects nearly all of the human body's organs and

causes physical and mental impairments. Lead is still a significant contributor to

environmental, occupational, public, and animal health issues. A review of studies from

China described the possible links between low-level lead exposure and adverse effects on

the reproductive system. Effects manifested mainly as high prevalence rates of menstrual

disturbance, spontaneous abortion, and threatened abortion in exposed females (Massányi

et al., 2020).

Mercury exists in three forms: elemental, inorganic, and organic [128]. Humans are

exposed to mercury primarily through the consumption of seafood or sashimi, but also, to a

lesser extent, through dental amalgams, broken thermometers, fluorescent light bulbs,

button cell batteries, and skin-lightening creams. Mercury exposure is linked to

environmental mercury concentrations and various food products.

Summary

Sugarcane or sugar cane is a species of tall, perennial grass that is used for sugar

production. Bagasse is the dry pulpy fibrous material that remains after crushing sugarcane

or sorghum stalks. It is used as a biofuel for producing heat, energy, and electricity, and in

manufacturing pulp and building materials.

Traditional water treatment methods are deficient for some reasons including high cost,

non-selectivity, time-consuming, and complicated operation. Several studies have been

performed on industrial by-products such as fly ash, iron slags, titanium oxide, sawdust, and

bagasse fly ash.

The main benefits of this adsorbent are its high efficiency over a short period,

recyclability, and biodegradability. The proposed approach is economical and safe for the
environment. Tests showed independent adsorption properties when compared with the

column flow rates.

Sugarcane bagasse (SCB) is the major by-product of the sugar cane industry; it is

one of the largest agricultural residues in the world. It is a fibrous residue of sugarcane

stalks left over after crushing and extracting sugarcane juice. About 54 million tons of dry

SCB are produced annually worldwide and huge amounts of SCB are burned in the fields,

resulting in a serious pollution problem. Furthermore, SCB is an abundant, inexpensive, and

promising type of industrial waste with lignin cellulose and polymeric structure (50%

cellulose, 25% hemicellulose, and 25% lignin) [9]. Thus, the utilization of this agricultural

waste as a low-cost adsorbent could provide a two-fold advantage concerning environmental

pollution. Firstly, the volume of by-products could be partly reduced, and secondly, the low-

cost adsorbent could reduce the pollution of wastewater at a reasonable cost. Therefore, it

was concluded that SCB presented as a potential biosorbent material for the treatment of

MB-contaminated waters. (Siqueira, et al (2020),

Lead and mercury are elements that occur naturally in the earth's crust and are

common environmental contaminants. Excessive exposure can begin in the intrauterine

period, leading to adverse effects at birth. Clinicians must be aware of the signs and

symptoms of lead and mercury poisoning. We go over the most common sources of

exposure, the signs and symptoms of lead and mercury poisoning, and how to use chelation

therapy correctly.

Heavy metals (HMs) are among the most dangerous toxicants because they enter the

soil. HM pollution poses significant risks to alfalfa production. Acute lead poisoning occurs in

humans when exposed to high doses. Chronic lead poisoning can be fatal when lead

accumulates in the body gradually through continuous exposure to small amounts.

Heavy metals (HMs) are among the most dangerous toxicants because they enter the

soil. HM pollution poses significant risks to alfalfa production. Acute lead poisoning occurs in
humans when exposed to high doses. Chronic lead poisoning can be fatal when lead

accumulates in the body gradually through continuous exposure to small amounts.

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