Industrial wastewater contains lots of heavy metals. This has been worrying environmentalists and conservationists for long. To find a solution to this, two Kochi-based Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute researchers has discovered certain sea plants along the Gulf of Mannar coast, capable of not only removing heavy metals - like cadmium and lead - but also allow their recovery.
This environment-saving brown algae — Sargassum wightii - is not only as effective but also better than activated carbon and natural zeolites, conventionally used to remove heavy metals from industrial effluents.
Detailed information on it is reported in a paper published in Current Science (Vol 90, No 9, May 10, 2006). Besides this, the seaweeds can easily be collected for use, as it washes ashore.
Via: Down to Earth
