| dc.description.abstract | The primary aim of this thesis was to investigate the process of biosorption and explore its suitability and effectiveness for use in Norway for the removal of heavy metals from wastewater. A qualitative assessment was performed for three selected sources of biomass against certain criteria for cost-effective bioadsorbents. In addition, a SWOT analysis was conducted for each bioadsorbent/source of biomass in order to further evaluate its suitability and effectiveness. The findings demonstrated that SCGs are a cost-effective source of biomass for the production of bioadsorbents for heavy metal sequestration from wastewater. SCGs are available in large amounts in Norway and the bioadsorbents produced from SCGs exhibit high biosorption capacity for heavy metals. In addition, SCGs exhibit decent reuse and regeneration properties and have been shown to possess decent inherent surface characteristics which can further be optimized through various modification techniques. Although wheat straw and sawdust-derived bioadsorbents have been shown to exhibit decent biosorption capacities, they are less attractive options for Norway due to their unreliable supply, higher costs and competing applications. Biosorption is a promising alternative for the removal and recovery of heavy metals from wastewater and it also opens a new avenue for the valorization of biodegradable waste in Norway. Since research into the field is in its infancy phase, more research efforts are required in the field of biochar utilization for the removal of heavy metals. | |