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Equilibrium, kinetic, and thermodynamic biosorption of Pb(II), Cr(III), and Cd(II) ions by dead anaerobic biomass from synthetic wastewater

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Abstract

Purpose

Heavy metals are toxic pollutants released into the environment as a result of different industrial activities. Biosorption of heavy metals from aqueous solutions is a new technology for the treatment of industrial wastewater. The aim of the present research is to highlight the basic biosorption theory to heavy metal removal.

Materials and methods

Heterogeneous cultures mostly dried anaerobic bacteria, yeast (fungi), and protozoa were used as low-cost material to remove metallic cations Pb(II), Cr(III), and Cd(II) from synthetic wastewater. Competitive biosorption of these metals was studied.

Results

The main biosorption mechanisms were complexation and physical adsorption onto natural active functional groups. It is observed that biosorption of these metals was a surface process. The main functional groups involved in these processes were hydroxyl (–OH) and carboxylic groups (C=O) with 37, 52, and 31 and 21, 14, and 34 % removal of Pb(II), Cr(III), and Cd(II), respectively. Langmuir was the best model for a single system. While extended Langmuir was the best model for binary and ternary metal systems. The maximum uptake capacities were 54.92, 34.78, and 29.99 mg/g and pore diffusion coefficients were 7.23, 3.15, and 2.76 × 10−11 m2/s for Pb(II), Cr(III), and Cd(II), respectively. Optimum pH was found to be 4. Pseudo-second-order was the best model to predict the kinetic process. Biosorption process was exothermic and physical in nature.

Conclusions

Pb(II) offers the strongest component that is able to displace Cr(III) and Cd(II) from their sites, while Cd(II) ions are the weakest adsorbed component.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to express our sincere thanks and deep gratitude to the Ministry of Oil, Petroleum Development and Research Center, Baghdad, Iraq for supporting this work financially.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Engineering Department, College of Engineering, University of Baghdad, 8856, Baghdad, Iraq

    Abbas Hamid Sulaymon

  2. Environmental Engineering Department, College of Engineering, University of Baghdad, 6382, Baghdad, Iraq

    Shahlaa Esmail Ebrahim

  3. Environmental Engineering Department, College of Engineering, University of Baghdad, 8752, Baghdad, Iraq

    Mohanad Jasim Mohammed-Ridha

Authors
  1. Abbas Hamid Sulaymon
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  2. Shahlaa Esmail Ebrahim
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  3. Mohanad Jasim Mohammed-Ridha
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mohanad Jasim Mohammed-Ridha.

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Responsible editor: Vinod Kumar Gupta

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Sulaymon, A.H., Ebrahim, S.E. & Mohammed-Ridha, M.J. Equilibrium, kinetic, and thermodynamic biosorption of Pb(II), Cr(III), and Cd(II) ions by dead anaerobic biomass from synthetic wastewater. Environ Sci Pollut Res 20, 175–187 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-012-0854-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-012-0854-8

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