[Raptor235]

The humble peanut - loved and reviled depending on your perspective - has new tricks to offer. Once a peanut is shelled to allow the inside to be used, the husk becomes garbage. In fact, all those peanut shells add up to one of the biggest waste products of the food industry. So, wouldn’t it be great to turn that garbage to some use?

A new study uses peanut husks to filter waste water. Copper is a metallic element that occurs naturally in the environment. It is a micronutrient found in most organisms, including plants and animals. At trace levels, it is a crucial part of enzymatic and other physiological functions. Insufficient copper is linked to human health problems. However, at higher concentrations, it becomes toxic.

Copper is a component of industrial waste discharged from pulp and paper mills, fertilizer plants, and metal-plating companies, among other manufacturing sectors. Copper is also used in some agricultural treatments for plant mildew. Vehicle brakes and other operations are another major contributor of copper. The multiple avenues for copper discharge include mining, farming, industry and waste water; natural sources may be volcanic eruption, dust, vegetation, and fire. Once into aquatic systems, copper ions act as a heavy metal pollutant.You can find the entire article here http://aboutmyplanet.com/science-technology/nutty-after