The elemental composition of Termite mound was determined by XRF which revealed K, Ti and Mn as minor constituents while Ca and Fe as major constituents. The dominant functional groups of Termite mound are Fe-OH, Fe-O and O-H. The Pb (II) and Zn (II) adsorption capacities (mg g-1) are in order of Pb(II) (13.07) > Zn(II) (12.40) > Pb(Pb/Zn) (11.72) > Zn(Pb/Zn) (7.62). The Langmuir adsorption isotherm fitted the adsorption data better than Freundlich isotherm. The adsorption process was best described by pseudo-second-order kinetic model for single and binary solutions, and the rate constants k 2 (g mg-1 min-1) are 0.036, 0.016, 0.024 and 0.015, and the calculated value of q e (mg g-1) is 12.33, 12.25, 11.52 and 7.84 for Pb(II), Zn(II), Pb (Pb/Zn) and Zn (Pb/Zn), respectively. The regression coefficient, R 2 values, for these solutions ranged between 0.9966 and 0.9978. The DH (kJ mol-1) values were positive for single and binary solutions in the order Pb (II) (32.0) > Pb (Pb/Zn) (30.8) > Zn (Pb/Zn) (28.0) > Zn (II) (19.0), while DS (kJ mol-1 K-1) are in the order of Pb (II) (0.103) > Pb (Pb/Zn) (0.097) > Zn (Pb/Zn) (0.082) > Zn (II) (0.06). The DG value for Zn (II) is positive in both single and binary systems, while that for Pb (II) was positive between 313-333 and 323–333 K for single and binary systems, respectively. The data show that the use of neglected Termite mound for Pb (II) and Zn (II) removal from aqueous solutions is economically significant in wastewater treatment.

Microcerotermes Silvestri is a cosmopolitan genus and is distributed in all zoogeographical regions, except the Nearctic region. During the study of Iranian Termite fauna, specimens of Microcerotermes were collected from Zabol (Eastern of Iran, Sistan). Morphological studies indicated that specimens belonged to a new species. In imagos, the head-capsule pale brown; postclypeus, labrum, antennae, pronotum and legs yellowish brown; tergites brown; intersegmental membrane pale yellow. In soldiers, the head-capsule yellowish brown, oval; anterior margin and around the antennal suture darker; antennae paler than the head-capsule; mandibles dark brown; legs and abdomen yellow. Microcertermes sistaniensis sp. n. comes closest to Microcerotermes diversus Silvestri, but can be separated from the lather on the basis of the morphological characters of the soldier and alate imago. In soldiers of M. sistaniensis, head oval, yellowish brown, the maximum width of head 1.12 mm, head length at mandible base to the maximum width of head (L/W) 1.23. In soldiers of M. diversus, head subrectangular, yellowish, the maximum width of head 0.90 mm, head length at mandible base to the maximum width of head (L/W) 1.55. In alate imagos of M. sistaniensis, the length of body without wings 6-7 mm, the length of head to the tip of labrum 1.19 mm and head width 1.07 mm. In alate imagos of M. diversus, the length of body without wings 4.5-5.2 mm, the length of head to the tip of labrum 0.91 mm and head width 0.78 mm.

An investigation on varied types of Termite mounds relative to the nearby soils that are not inhabited by the Termites in different places of Cameroon show that the activity of the Termites is increasing the contents of most major and some trace elements in the Termite mounds, except for Si and sometimes Fe, Mn, Na and K. These released elements are relocated into newly formed mineral phases that are dissolved by either H2O or dilute HCl leachings. The Ca and Mn released by the Termite activity testify for crystallization of Ca-Mg carbonates and phosphates as well as of Fe oxy-hydroxides and/or Mn hydroxides. Termite activity also induces an increase in the lanthanide contents, the mound materials being especially enriched in light lanthanides relative to the corresponding soils without Termite activity. The shapes of the patterns support precipitation of Mn-Fe oxy-hydroxides and Ca carbonates-phosphates. The increased amounts of Eu and Ce linked to Termite activity seem to relate to the occurrence of reducing agents that are released by the Termites, modifying Eu+3 into Eu+2 and Ce+4 into Ce+3, favoring in turn selective incorporation of Eu+2 and Ce3+ in the new phases of the Termite mounds. Another consequence of the Termite activity is the precipitation of H2O and HCl extractable phases having low Sr/Ca ratios. Even if the K/Rb values of the Termite mounds are typical for common soil-forming silicate minerals, their relocation by an inorganic process alone does not explain an abnormally high ratio in the H2O leachable mineral phases. It was also shown that the main source for K and Rb of the dissolved phases is not only the interlayer site of clay particles, but also nutrients immobilized in and by the Termites.

The morphological and mineralogical composition of a Termite mound from Ilorin, Nigeria was investigated with a view to understand its sorption properties. The Termite hill soil was subjected to some spectroscopic analyses such as X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and Scanning Electron Microscopy. The XRF results revealed that the adsorbent contains a large fraction of Silicon, Iron and Aluminium minerals. The organic matter (OM) content expressed as percentage carbon was 3.45% while the high value of cation exchange capacity of 14.0 meq/100 g is in agreement with high percentage OM, which signifies high availability of exchangeable ions. The maximum Pb (II) adsorption capacity of the mound was found to be 15.5 mg/g. Batch adsorption experiments were carried out as a function of contact time, ionic strength and pH. Maximum and constant adsorption was observed in the pH range of 2–5.5. The experimental results of Pb (II) adsorption were analyzed using Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherms. The Langmuir and Temkin isotherms were found to fit the measured sorption data better than Freundlich. The constants obtained from the Langmuir model are maximum sorption value, Qm=18.18 and Langmuir energy of adsorption constant, b=0.085, while the constants of the Freundlich model are the intensity of adsorption constant, n=0.134, and maximum diffusion constant, Kf=1.36. The adsorption data for Pb (II) was found to fit well into the pseudo-second order model. Desorption experiment was conducted using different concentrations of leachant and this was repeated three times to determine the life span of the adsorbent. It was observed that 0.2 M HCl had the highest desorption efficiency for reuse.