Lead is a toxic and naturally occurring substance with documented neurotoxin, toxic, and  long-lasting adverse health effects. Lead exposure can cause impaired physical and mental development in children and affects the intestinal tract, kidneys, joints and reproductive system in adults. This study evaluates the removal of 1500 PPM of lead from contaminated aqueous solution using Celite, Louisiana Red Clay, Charcoal, and supernatants from aqueous extracts of Mustard Green (Brassica juncea), and Spinach (Spinacea oleracea). After shaking triplicate reaction mixtures for each substrate for 22 hours at room temperature, lead removal by the five substrates were analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES). Results suggest that the order of lead removal is Spinach (98%) > Charcoal (96%) > LA Red Clay (88%)> Mustard Green (87%) > Celite (4%).  The study concludes that some liquid and solid substrates can efficiently remove lead from contaminated water.

Lead remediation of contaminated water by charcoal, Louisiana red clay, spinach, and mustard green

245th National Meeting (2013)

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