Environmental Biotechnology

Process Biotechnology

Electronic Journal of Biotechnology ISSN: 0717-3458 Vol. 8 No. 2, Issue of August 15, 2005
© 2005 by Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso -- Chile Received November 12, 2004 / Accepted March 15, 2005
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Effects of temperature on the sorption of Pb2+ and Cd2+ from aqueous solution 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: 234 803 309 5183
E-mail: emispiff@yahoo.com

*Corresponding author 

Financial support: The International Foundation Science, Sweden supported this work through grant number W/3624-1 to Dr M. Horsfall Jnr.

Keywords: biosorption, Cocoyam, heavy metals removal, temperature, thermodynamics of sorption, waste management.

Abstract
Full Text

This report is based on the investigation of the effect of temperature on the removal of Pb2+ and Cd2+ in aqueous effluent using C. bicolor biomass in a batch sorption process. The result showed that the most suitable sorption temperature was 40ºC with maximum sorption capacities of 49.02 mg/g and 52.63 mg/g for Pb2+ and Cd2+ respectively. Various thermodynamic parameters, such as ΔGo, ΔHo, ΔSo and Ea have been calculated. The data showed that the sorption process is spontaneous and exothermic in nature and that lower solution temperatures favours metal ion removal by the biomass. The findings of this investigation suggest that physical sorption plays a role in controlling the sorption rate. The sticking probability model was further employed to assess the applicability of the C. bicolor biomass as an alternative adsorbent for metal ion contaminants in aqueous system.

 
Supported by UNESCO / MIRCEN network 
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