Biosorption of lead(II) and cadmium(II) by protonated Sargassum glaucescens biomass in a continuous packed bed column

J Hazard Mater. 2007 Aug 25;147(3):785-91. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2007.01.122.

Abstract

Biosorption of lead(II) and cadmium(II) from aqueous solutions by protonated Sargassum glaucescens biomass was studied in a continuous packed bed column. The selective uptake of Pb2+ and Cd2+ was investigated in a binary system with initial concentration of 1 mM for each metal ion. The selective uptake capacities of Pb2+ and Cd2+ at complete exhaustion point were obtained 1.18 and 0.22 mmol/g, respectively; therefore, the biosorbent showed much higher relative affinity for Pb2+ than for Cd2+. The optimum range of empty bed contact time (EBCT) was identified as 5-10 min in the packed bed column. The efficiency of biosorbent regeneration by 0.1 M HCl was achieved about 60%, so that the maximum uptake capacity of Pb2+ by the regenerated biomass was determined to be 0.75 mmol/g while the same value for the original biomass was 1.24 mmol/g. The Thomas model was found in a suitable fitness with the experimental data (R2 > 0.90 and % < 50%) at all different operation stages. Monitoring of pH in the effluent of the column presented the simultaneous release of H+ with the uptake of heavy metals; hence, ion exchange was confirmed to be one of the main biosorption mechanisms.

MeSH terms

  • Absorption
  • Biomass
  • Bioreactors
  • Cadmium / chemistry
  • Cadmium / metabolism*
  • Drug Combinations
  • Lead / chemistry
  • Lead / metabolism*
  • Oils / chemistry
  • Phenols / chemistry
  • Sargassum / metabolism*
  • Waste Disposal, Fluid / methods
  • Water Pollutants / chemistry
  • Water Pollutants / metabolism*
  • Water Purification / methods*

Substances

  • Drug Combinations
  • Oils
  • P & S Liquid
  • Phenols
  • Water Pollutants
  • Cadmium
  • Lead