The use of chemical and biological agents in the recovery of heavy metals from treated woods – A brief review

Abstract

This manuscript provides a brief review about chemical and biological agents used to bioremediate treated wood waste. Wood preservatives have been used to increase wood’s useful life, because any species is subject to decay. Studies indicate that the disposal of treated wood after its service has drawn concern and scrutiny. Practices have included disposal in landfills or construction sites as well as destruction by burning, so it is apparent that more environmentally friendly options are needed. To mitigate these problems, acidic agents, fungi, and bacteria can be used as alternatives to remove heavy metals. At optimum temperature and concentration, acids play a major role in the removal process. The process is enhanced when a bioremediation technique is used after chemical extraction. In fact, bioremediation has been shown to be a remarkable technique for recovering copper, arsenic, creosote, and other compounds. The major drawback is the extensive duration of fungal activity for release of heavy metals.