Biosorption of Pb²⁺ and Cu²⁺ in aqueous solutions using agricultural wastes

¹ School of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Mapúa University 658 Muralla St., Intramuros, Manila 1002, Philippines
² School of Microelectronic Engineering, University Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Kampus Alam, Pauh Putra, 02600 Arau, Perlis, Malaysia.

^* Corresponding author: adnieva@mapua.edu.ph

Published online: 22 November 2017

Abstract

This study aimed to determine and compare the adsorptive capacity of Pb²⁺ and Cu²⁺ in simulated wastewater onto three agricultural wastes The adsorption capacities of Pb²⁺ onto the agricultural wastes can be arranged as Litchi chinensis (4.30 mg of sorbate per g of sorbent (mg g^-1), 85.68% adsorption) > Bambusa vulgaris (3.83 mg g^-1, 76.19% adsorption) > Annona squamosa (2.70 mg g^-1, 53.66% adsorption) while the adsorption capacities of Cu²⁺ onto the same agricultural wastes can be arranged in the order: Bambusa vulgaris (3.86 mg g^-1, 77.17% adsorption) > Annona squamosal (3.58 mg g^-1, 71.58% adsorption) > Litchi chinensis (3.42 mg g^-1, 68.32% adsorption). The biosorbents had relatively higher adsorptive capacities with Cu²⁺ as compared to that of Pb²⁺ except for Litchi chinensis. Although the results show lower adsorptive capacity as compared to a number of treated agricultural wastes showing 80% up to almost 100% adsorption of Pb²⁺ and Cu²⁺, the results show that Annona squamosa, Bamubusa vulgaris, and Litchi chinensis are potential biosorbents and promote sustainable treatment process.