Contamination of water by heavy metals is often linked to
human, industrial and agricultural activities, and cause health and ecological
problems. The objective of this study is to remove water pollutants like
Cd2+, Cu2+ and Pb2+ in synthetic solutions by adsorption on clay from
Burkina Faso. Electrochemical characterizations revealed that
90 % of heavy metals can be removed. Structural studies evidenced that
almost all clay mineral species participate to the removal of heavy metals
through different physico-chemical mechanisms namely ion exchange,
complexation and precipitation.

Keywords: Burkina Faso clay, heavy metals, mechanisms, pollution

Burkina Faso clay, heavy metals, mechanisms