ENHANCED REMOVAL OF MERCURY VAPOR USING SULFURIZED BENTONITE

I. RATIONALE OF THE STUDY

Mercury is the most toxic, non-radioactive element on the earth. Due to its

poisonous nature, mercury can adversely affect the immune, urinary, cardiac,

respiratory and digestive systems. Under laboratory conditions, mercury has

produced brain cell deterioration identical to that seen in victims of Alzheimer's

disease.

Inhaled mercury vapor is readily absorbed into the bloodstream. The

damaging effects of this exposure may not manifest for years or even decades.

Studies repeatedly demonstrate that even low levels of mercury cause

measurable adverse health effects. Mercury in the tissues of a fetus or infant

correlates significantly with the number of dental amalgam fillings in the mother.

Newborns may be at risk for learning disabilities because of mercury their mother

absorbed during pregnancy. Across scientific disciplines, health professionals are

realizing that mercury may adversely impact patient health.

Certain healing clays are able to extract heavy metals, radioactive

elements and many other toxins such as pesticides from the body. These clays,

technically known as Smectites, have the ability to absorb and adsorb making

them ideal for binding with heavy metals.

Orange peels are oftentimes straight to garbage bins after eating the edible part of

the fruit. These fruits can be easily acquired and inexpensive. According to World Atlas,

the current annual orange production is estimated at 50 million tons. While most people
 are not aware of the nutrients in orange peel wastes, many people tent to dispose them

easily. These small wastes when accumulated all together can cause serious

environmental problems especially when not disposed properly. This is another issue that

the research is trying to solve.

In order to make these peels useful, we shall make use of the pectin content of the

orange peels. This will lessen the damage for the environmental issue and be beneficial to

its users.

II. OBJECTIVES PROPOSED

1. To analyze the effect of the presence of pectin in metal ion containing water

2. To determine the metal ions reacted with the pectin

3. To compare the composition of the surface water before and after pectin was

introduced

III. RELEVANT LITERATURE

Pectin, a naturally occurring polysaccharide, has in recent years gained

increasingly in importance. The benefits of natural pectin are also more and more

appreciated by scientists and consumer due to its biodegradability. Pectin is the

methylated ester of polygalacturonic acid. It is commercially extracted from citrus peels

and apple pomace under mildly acidic conditions.

Pectin is one of those compounds which is widely found in plant cell walls. The

carboxylic groups of pectin can be applied to bind heavy metals by forming complex

compounds that are insoluble in water. Moreover, modification of pectin can be done by

crosslinking technique with certain cross-linker agent. In a series of researches the

 recommendations for application of pectin or pectin-containing substances as efficient

adsorption remedies fixing heavy metal ions were suggested.

According to SF Gate, the majority of the pectin resides in the citrus peel, but the

pulp also contains some, oranges range from 0.25 to 0.76 percent.

IV. PROPOSED METHODOLOGY

1. Remove the peels of the fruit.

2. Cut the peels into small pieces.
3. Clean and wash the peels thoroughly with double distilled water to remove the
adhering dirt.
4. Expose and dry under the sun for 5 days
5. Dry in an oven at 100C for 24 hours
6. Ground and sieve the dried peels.
7. Place the sieved peels in a tea bag.
8. Dip the filled tea bag in surface water.

V. REFERENCES

 Budi Hastuti, Mudasi , Dwi Siswanta, and Triyono (2015). Preparation and Pb (II)

Adsorption properties of Crosslinked Pectin-carboxymethyl Chitosan Film

 Mykola T. Kartel, Lidiya A. Kupchik, Batyr K Veisov (1998). Evaluation of Pectin

Binding of Heavy Metal Ions in Aqueous Solutions

 Pornsak Sriamornsak (2003). Chemistry of Pectin and Its Pharmaceutical Uses: A

Review, Silpakorn University International Journal

 Benita Green Lee (2013). Using Food Waste to Purify Water, Plantxing.com