“…Many methods have been developed to remove heavy metals from industrial effluents [12,13], including precipitation, co-precipitation, electrodeposition, electrocoagulation, cementation, membrane separation, solvent extraction, ionexchange, adsorption and biosorption [14,15]. In spite of good extraction of metals achieved in chemical treatment (using either Ca(OH) 2 or NaOH as precipitating agent), the large consumption of chemicals implies relatively high operating cost [14,15]. Likewise, the precipitates formed are voluminous and sometimes induce high sludge production [16].…”