Title: Biosorption of Cu(II) and Zn(II) by intact and pre-treated biomass of Oscillatoria planctonica

Authors: Hui Peng, Yunguo Liu, Guangming Zeng, Xin Li, Wei Zhang

Addresses: College of Resources and Environment, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China. ' College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, China. ' College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, China. ' College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, China. ' College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, China

Abstract: The biosorption of copper(II) and zinc(II) from aqueous solution by intact and pre-treated biomass of Oscillatoria planctonica was studied. The biosorption was pH dependent and the adsorption capacity decreased with the biosorbent to solution ratio increasing. The maximum removal ratios were 84.84% and 68.22% respectively in pre-treated biomass. The biosorption followed both the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm model and the adsorption equilibrium was reached in about 1 h. The adsorbed Cu(II) and Zn(II) could be desorbed effectively by 0.1 M nitric acid. The experimental results indicated that Oscillatoria planctonica was effective in removing Cu(II) and Zn(II) from wastewater.

Keywords: biosorption; Oscillatoria planctonica; copper; zinc; biomass pre-treatment; desorption; adsorption capacity; wastewater treatment.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2009.026638

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2009 Vol.38 No.1/2, pp.1 - 14

Published online: 22 Jun 2009 *

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