Ultrafast remediation of lead-contaminated water applying sphagnum peat moss by dispersive solid-phase extraction

Lead poisoning, correlated to the high blood lead levels among the children of the Gaza Strip, is another severe problem for Palestinians. The paper reports a cost-effective and time-effective remediation by sphagnum moss, which can remove lead from aqueous solution through dispersive solid-phase extraction. The optimum conditions of adsorption such as equilibrium time, pH, adsorbate initial concentration and adsorbent mass were investigated. In conclusion, a cost-effective and ultrafast lead uptake of ~95% was established in 60 s as adsorption-equilibrium contact time. Thus, a design of flow-through remediation unit for lead removal from real-life contaminated water would provide healthy outflow water. Moreover, regeneration and reuse of sphagnum in lead removal is advantageous for less developed economies with a problem of lead pollution in their water. © 2019, © 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.