Diatomaceous soils: studies on efficiency in the removal of heavy metals through filters and systematic review of the literature

Abstract

The appearance of heavy metals in water bodies has led to the development of new technologies for their treatment and the removal of these toxic substances. These technologies can be effective in removing heavy metals, but at high costs. It is for this reason that new processes are being developed based on diatomaceous soils, taking into account their availability and ease of exploitation worldwide. The development of this research focused on conducting a systematic search for information on the implementation of diatomaceous soils as filters, and their efficiency in the removal of pollutants for man and ecosystems. Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that diatomaceous soils have great potential, since their porous material allows their modification through different processes, getting a diatomite with better adsorption properties and a high percentage of heavy metal removal