ABSTRACT
This chapter includes discussion on factors affecting adsorption of essential elements. The requirement of these metals in human diet is required for some functions as follows: cobalt is a part of vitamin B12, copper is a part of several metalloenzymes such as cytochrome c oxidase, manganese deficiency is associated with skeletal abnormalities, selenium is a part of several proteins and its deficiency leads to Keshan disease, and zinc is also a part of several metalloenzymes. Manganese is an essential element, but chronic exposure to manganese is suspected to cause neurotoxicity. The sodium hydroxide treatment of zeolite, iron impregnation of pumice, and sodium dodecyl modification of alumina lead to increased removal capacity. The treatment of the adsorbent with a chemical reagent leads to a change in the surface and structural properties. The surface modification of silica leads to a decline in surface area after modification with diethylenetriamine.
