Removal of Heavy Metal using Non-ionic Surfactant: A Review

In emerging countries, heavy metal contamination is becoming more of a problem. Because of poor water and wastewater treatment, as well as increased industrial activities, heavy metal contamination in rivers, lakes, and other water sources has increased in developing countries. Non-ionic surfactants like Triton X-100 and Triton X-114 have been widely utilized to remove heavy metals from water, soil, and sediments via cloud point extraction and soil washing. The effectiveness of non-ionic surfactant to remove heavy metal was determined by the study of effect of the parameters which are pH, surfactant concentration, temperature, and presence of natural organic matter (NOM). Based on the overall study, non-ionic surfactant efficiency in removing heavy metals is strongly reliant on water and soil quality parameters such as pH, surfactant concentration, and temperature, as well as the surfactant's characteristics.