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Removal of Pb2+ from aqueous system by live Oscillatoria laete-virens (Crouan and Crouan) Gomont isolated from industrial effluents

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Abstract

Cyanobacteria have been found to be potential biosorbents of metal ions from waste water. The Pb2+ removal capacity of growing cells of indigenous cyanobacterium Oscillatoria laete-virens (Crouan and Crouan) Gomont was studied under batch experiments and it was found capable of removing Pb2+ of lower concentrations (below 100 mg L−1). The effects of different concentrations of Pb2+, on the growth rate of alga were also evaluated. The research parameters include the pH of the solution, contact time, initial concentration of Pb2+, and culture density. Of the parameters studied, the pH of the solution was found to be the most crucial. The removal of Pb2+ peaked at an initial pH of 5. The data obtained from the equilibrium experiments were found well fitting with the Langmuir isotherm with a maximum sorptive capacity (q max) of 20.36 mg g−1, indicating a good biosorbtive potential of growing cells. This was confirmed using scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive X-ray analysis, which showed the adsorption of lead on the surface of the cell. The species could tolerate a concentration as high as 60 mg L−1 of Pb2+. It was observed that the removal obeyed the pseudo-second-order kinetics. The percentage removal was found to decrease with increasing metal concentration, from 10 to 100 mg L−1. FTIR analysis indicates the involvement of amino, carboxylic and amide groups in the sorption process. Among the desorbing agents evaluated, an efficient recovery of 90.2 % was achieved by HCl, in 24 h. Thus Oscillatoria laete-virens (Crouan and Crouan) Gomont seems to be a promising metal biosorbent for the treatment of Pb2+, in waste waters.

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Acknowledgments

Authors gratefully acknowledge the Mangalore Jesuit Educational Society for providing necessary facilities to carry out a part of this work and Mrs. Sucharitha S. for the assistance rendered in statistical analysis. Of the authors Mrs. Jyothi Miranda acknowledges the logistical support granted by UGC, New Delhi (FIP).

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Miranda, J., Krishnakumar, G. & D’Silva, A. Removal of Pb2+ from aqueous system by live Oscillatoria laete-virens (Crouan and Crouan) Gomont isolated from industrial effluents. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 28, 3053–3065 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-012-1115-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-012-1115-1

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