Journal of Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences

Background: The presence of heavy metals in the environment, especially in the water creates many health problems. Effective technology for the removal of some of the other methods that are attractive from an economic standpoint, the availability and high power in remove the rest of their advantages. The aim of this study was to investigate the uptake of heavy metals ( Cu , Cd and Pb ) by the saffron leaves of the aquatic environment in the area is available as an absorbent.

Materials & Methods: An experimental study in the spring and summer in 2013 in Environmental Health Engineering Research Center of Kerman University of medical was performed. Plantations of Razavi Khorasan dried saffron leaves were used as absorbents. Batch experiments were performed at room temperature on a synthetic and real sample. The effects of PH solution, absorbent dose, contact time, initial concentration of heavy metals absorption isotherms were determined and discussed. Experiments were performed in duplicate, to determine of mean was used the SPSS version 15.

Results: PH optimal removal of heavy metals copper, cadmium and lead saffron leaves the absorber was 5. The optimum absorbent for metals (0.5, 1.5 and 1.5 g) and the equilibrium contact times (45, 90 and 90 min), respectively. The optimum conditions for the removal of the 55.75 %, 81.89 % and 83.56 %, respectively. With increasing initial concentrations of copper, cadmium and lead in solution, the removal efficiency decreased. PH was important for the uptake of heavy metals. In actual samples (Martyr Bahonar Copper Industries and battery niruelectronics) optimal amount of adsorbent (1.5, 2and 2 g) and contact times (60, 90, and 90 minutes) respectively. The optimum conditions for the removal of metals, 45.12 %, 68.78 % and 73.53 % respectively. Results from this study showed the highest correlation with the Langmuir isotherm model.