Bioremediation of Lead(II) from Polluted Wastewaters Employing Sulphuric Acid Treated Maize Tassel Biomass

Mambo Moyo, Linda Chikazaza

Department of Chemical Technology, Midlands State University, Gweru, Zimbabwe.

DOI: 10.4236/ajac.2013.412083                

Abstract

The ability to modify a waste by-product precursor, maize tassel biomass using sulfuric acid as the activating agent with specific focus on Lead(II) ion from water has been proposed. The treating of maize tassel using sulphuric acid is believed to enhance sorption capacity of Lead(II) ions. For this, batch adsorption mode was adopted for which the effects of initial pH, adsorbent dosage, contact time and initial concentration were investigated. Consequently, it was found that the adsorbent capacity depends on pH; since it increases up to 4.5 and then decreases. The highest percentage of Lead(II) ion removal was achieved in the adsorbent dosage of 1.2 g and at an initial concentration of 10 mg/L metal ion. In an attempt to determine the capacity and rate of Lead(II) removal, isotherm and kinetic data were modeled using appropriate equations. To this end, the adsorption data fitted best into the Langmuir model with an R² (0.9997) while kinetically the Lead(II) adsorption followed the pseudo-second-order model. Furthermore, as a way to address issues related to sustainability, maize tassel is recommended since the process is considered to be a dual solution for environmental cleaning. From one side, it represents a better way to dispose the maize tassel which has no use after fertilization and on the other hand it is an economic source of carbonaceous materials.

 

Keywords

Maize Tassel; Adsorption; Removal; Wastewater Treatment, Lead(II) Ion

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	P. S. Kumar, “Adsorption of Lead(II) Ions from Simulated Wastewater Using Natural Waste: A Kinetic, Thermodynamic and Equilibrium Study,” Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy, 2013, pp. 1-10.
[2]	A. B. Dekhil, Y. Hannachi, A. Ghorbel and T. Boubaker, “Removal of Lead and Cadmium Ions from Aqueous Solutions Using the Macroalga Caulerpa racemosa,” Chemistry and Ecology, Vol. 27, No. 3, 2011, pp. 221-234. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02757540.2010.529077
[3]	World Health Organization, “Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality,” Vol. 1-2, Geneva, 1984.
[4]	J. M. Lezcano, F. González, A. Ballester, M. L. Blázquez, J. A. Muoz and C. García-Balboa, “Sorption and Desorption of Cd, Cu and Pb Using Biomass from an Eutrophized Habitat in Monometallic and Bimetallic Systems,” Journal of environmental management, Vol. 92, No. 10, 2011, pp. 2666-2674. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2011.06.004
[5]	A. B. Marín, J. F. Ortuo, M. I. Aguilar, V. F. Meseguer, J. Saez and M. Lloréns, “Use of Chemical Modification to Determine the Binding of Cd(II), Zn(II) and Cr(III) Ions by Orange Waste,” Biochemical Engineering Journal, Vol. 53, No. 1, 2010, pp. 2-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bej.2008.12.010
[6]	J. P. Chen and L. Yang, “Chemical Modification of Sargassum sp. for Prevention of Organic Leaching and Enhancement of Uptake during Metal Biosorption,” Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, Vol. 44, No. 26, 2005, pp. 9931-9942. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ie050678t
[7]	I. W. Mwangi, J. C. Ngila, and J. O. Okonkwo, “A Comparative Study of Modified and Unmodified Maize Tassels for Removal of Selected Trace Metals in Contaminated Water,” Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry, Vol. 94, No. 1, 2012, pp. 20-39. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02772248.2011.638636
[8]	M. Madhava Rao, A. Ramesh, G. Purna Chandra Rao and K. Seshaiah, “Removal of Copper and Cadmium from the Aqueous Solutions by Activated Carbon Derived from Ceiba pentandra Hulls,” Journal of Hazardous Materials, Vol. 129, No. 1, 2006, pp. 123-129. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2005.08.018
[9]	S. T. Ong, S. P. Yip, P. S. Keng, S. L. Lee and Y. T. Hung, “Papaya (Carica papaya) Seed as a Low-Cost Sorbent for Zinc Removal,” African Journal of Agricultural Research, Vol. 7, No. 5, 2012, pp. 810-819.
[10]	. Gerel and H. F. Gerel, “Adsorption of Lead(II) Ions from Aqueous Solutions by Activated Carbon Prepared from Biomass Plant Material of Euphorbia rigida,” Chemical Engineering Journal, Vol. 132, No. 1, 2007, pp. 289-297. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2007.01.010
[11]	M. Imamoglu and O. Tekir, “Removal of Copper(II) and Lead(II) Ions from Aqueous Solutions by Adsorption on Activated Carbon from a New Precursor Hazelnut Husks,” Desalination, Vol. 228, No. 1, 2008, pp. 108-113. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2007.08.011
[12]	A. zer, “Removal of Pb(II) Ions from Aqueous Solutions by Sulphuric Acid-Treated Wheat Bran,” Journal of Hazardous Materials, Vol. 141, No. 3, 2007, pp. 753-761. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2006.07.040
[13]	K. Kadirvelu and C. Namasivayam, “Activated Carbon from Coconut Coirpith as Metal Adsorbent: Adsorption of Cd(II) from Aqueous Solution,” Advances in Environmental Research, Vol. 7, No. 2, 2003, pp. 471-478. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1093-0191(02)00018-7
[14]	O. S. Amuda, A. Giwa and I. A. Bello, “Removal of Heavy Metal from Industrial Wastewater Using Modified Activated Coconut Shell Carbon,” Biochemical Engineering Journal, Vol. 36, No. 2, 2007, pp. 174-181. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bej.2007.02.013
[15]	M. Moyo, J. O. Okonkwo and N. M. Agyei, “A Novel Hydrogen Peroxide Biosensor Based on Adsorption of Horseradish Peroxidase onto a Nanobiomaterial Composite Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode,” Electroanalysis, Vol. 25, 2013, pp. 1946-1954. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/elan.201300165
[16]	A. El Nemr, A. El Sikaily, A. Khaled and O. Abdelwahab, “Removal of Toxic Chromium(VI) from Aqueous Solution by Activated Carbon Using Casuarina equisetifolia,” Chemistry and Ecology, Vol. 23, No. 2, 2007, pp. 119-129. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02757540701197754
[17]	A. Esmaeili, S. Ghasemi and J. Sohrabipour, “Biosorption of Copper from Wastewater by Activated Carbon Preparation from Alga Sargassum sp,” Natural Product Research, Vol. 24, No. 4, 2010, pp. 341-348. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14786410903064915
[18]	P. S. Kumar, S. Ramalingam, R. V. Abhinaya, K. V. Thiruvengadaravi, P. Baskaralingam and S. Sivanesan, “Lead (II) Adsorption onto Sulphuric Acid Treated Cashew Nut Shell,” Separation Science and Technology, Vol. 46, No. 15, 2011, pp. 2436-2449. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01496395.2011.590174
[19]	K. Nath, S. Panchani, M. S. Bhakhar and S. Chatrola, “Preparation of Activated Carbon from Dried Pods of Prosopis cineraria with Zinc Chloride Activation for the Removal of Phenol,” Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2013, pp. 4030-4045. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11356-012-1325-y
[20]	A. O. Dada, J. O. Ojediran, A. P. Olalekan, “Sorption of Pb2+ from Aqueous Solution unto Modified Rice Husk: Isotherms Studies,” Advances in Physical Chemistry, Vol. 2013, 2013, pp. 1-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/842425
[21]	H. M. F. Freundlich, “Over the Adsorption in Solution,” Journal of Physical Chemistry, Vol. 57, 1906, pp. 384-470.
[22]	I. Langmuir, “The Constitution and Fundamental Properties of Solids and Liquids. II. Liquids. 1.,” Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol. 39, No. 9, 1917, pp. 1848-1906. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ja02254a006
[23]	K. R. Hall, L. C. Eagleton, A. Acrivos and T. Vermeulen, “Poreand Solid-Diffusion Kinetics in Fixed-Bed Adsorption under Constant-Pattern Conditions,” Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Fundamentals, Vol. 5, No. 2, 1966, pp. 212-223. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/i160018a011
[24]	W. Li, L. Zhang, J. Peng, N. Li, S. Zhang and S. Guo, “Tobacco Stems as a Low Cost Adsorbent for the Removal of Pb(II) from Wastewater: Equilibrium and Kinetic Studies,” Industrial Crops and Products, Vol. 28, No. 3, 2008, pp. 294-302. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2008.03.007
[25]	J. Srinivasa Rao, C. Kesava Rao and G. Prabhakar, “Optimization of Biosorption Performance of Casuarina Leaf Powder for the Removal of Lead Using Central Composite Design,” Journal of Environmental & Analytical Toxicology, Vol. 3, No. 2, 2013, p. 166.
[26]	I. W. Mwangi and J. C. Ngila, “Removal of Heavy Metals from Contaminated Water Using Ethylenediamine-Modified Green Seaweed Caulerpa serrulata,” Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C,” Vol. 50-52, 2012, pp. 111-120. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pce.2012.08.015
[27]	S. Doyurum and A. Celik, “Pb(II) and Cd(II) Removal from Aqueous Solutions by Olive Cake,” Journal of Hazardous Materials, Vol. 138, No. 1, 2006, pp. 22-28. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2006.03.071
[28]	C. M. Zvinowanda, J. O. Okonkwo, M. M. Sekhula, N. M. Agyei and R. Sadiku, “Application of Maize Tassel for the Removal of Pb, Se, Sr, U and V from Borehole Water Contaminated with Mine Wastewater in the Presence of Alkaline Metals,” Journal of Hazardous Materials, Vol. 164, No. 2, 2009, pp. 884-891. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2008.08.110
[29]	O. F. Olorundare, R. W. M. Krause, J. O. Okonkwo and B. B. Mamba, “Potential Application of Activated Carbon from Maize Tassel for the Removal of Heavy Metals in Water,” Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C, Vol. 50-52, 2012, pp. 104-110.
[30]	C. Raji and T. S. Anirudhan, “Batch Cr(VI) Removal by Polyacrylamide-Grafted Sawdust: Kinetics and Thermodynamics,” Water Research, Vol. 32, No. 12, 1998, pp. 3772-3780. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0043-1354(98)00150-X