Removal of Pb2+ Ions from Consuming Water Using a Fabricated Water Filter for Home Use

Lead contamination in water is one of the worldwide concerned environmental problems. For example, lead leaking from pipe corrosion and solder has been found contaminated in consuming water in many U.S. areas. The uncontrolled release of effluents containing lead from various industries has also caused lead-contaminated water in Thailand. Exposing to lead-contaminated water can lead to serious symptoms (e.g. fatigue, headaches, abdominal pain, irritability, depression, and seizures) or even death. Therefore, the elimination of lead ions (Pb²⁺) from consuming water or from effluents before releasing into the environment is necessary. The selection of adsorbents and the fabrication of a water filter used in households for Pb²⁺ removal from water were performed in this work. The efficiencies of Pb²⁺ removal from water using different particle sizes of grounded chicken eggshells (25 - 272 µm) and synthesized CaCO₃ (0.5 – 3.5 µm) employed as adsorbents were studied. By passing 100 ppm Pb²⁺ solution at pH 4.4 through small scale columns packed with these adsorbents, it was found that more than 90% of Pb²⁺ ions were removed from water with no significant difference among using any particle sizes of eggshells or synthesized CaCO₃ in this study. Grounded eggshells, cheap natural source of CaCO₃, were then chosen as adsorbents packed in a fabricated water filter that could be directly attached to a water tap. The Pb²⁺ removal efficiency and the adsorption capacity using this design of water filter were investigated. To this end, this fabricated water filter could provide a homemade and replaceable adsorbent for Pb²⁺ removal from consuming water.