Process Biotechnology

Environmental Biotechnology

Electronic Journal of Biotechnology ISSN: 0717-3458 Vol. 7 No. 3, Issue of December 15, 2004
© 2004 by Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso -- Chile Received April 7, 2004 / Accepted September 21, 2004
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Studies on the effect of pH on the sorption of Pb2+ and Cd2+ ions from aqueous solutions by Caladium bicolor (Wild Cocoyam) biomass

Michael Horsfall Jnr.*
Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry
University of Port Harcourt
Uniport P.O. Box 402, Choba
Port Harcourt
Nigeria
Tel: 234 803 507 9595
E-mail: horsfalljnr@yahoo.com 

Ayebaemi I. Spiff
Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry
University of Port Harcourt
Uniport P. O. Box 402, Choba
Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Tel: 234 803 507 9595
E-mail: emisipiff@yahoo.com

*Corresponding author

Financial support: This project was supported by a research grant from the International Foundation for Science, IFS, Sweden with grant No W-3624-1.

Keywords: adsorption, Cocoyam, heavy metals removal, phytoremediation, water treatment.

Abstract
Full Text

Environmental protection requires the use of natural products instead of chemicals to minimize pollution. This investigation studies the use of a non-useful plant material as naturally occurring biosorbents for the removal of cationic pollutants in wastewater. The effect of pH on the sorption of Pb2+ and Cd2+ ion onto Caladium bicolor corm biomass was investigated. The experimental results have been analysed in terms of Langmuir, Freundlich and Flory-Huggins isotherms. The data showed that the maximum pH (pHmax) for efficient sorption of Pb2+ was 7.0 and for Cd2+ 5.0. Evaluation using Langmuir equation gave the monolayer sorption capacity as 88.50 mg/g and 65.50 mg/g at the respective pHmax for Pb2+ and Cd2+. Surface characterization of acid and base treated C. bicolor biomass indicates a physiosorption as the predominant mechanism for the sorption process. The thermodynamic assessment of the metal ion - Caladium bicolor biomass system indicates the feasibility and spontaneous nature of the process.

 
Supported by UNESCO / MIRCEN network 
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