Abstract
This study aims was to evaluate the potential of C. hildmannianus peel as a protein biosorbent. The FTIR analysis showed the presence of peaks in the range of 3400-3300 cm-1 which can be attributed to hydroxyl groups of cellulose, pectin, hemicelluloses and lignin; CH2 and CH3 groups were present in the range of 2800-3000 cm-1, and COC groups in 1200-1000 cm-1 interval. The point of zero charge (pHpcz) was found at the pH 4.54. The adsorption efficiency was investigated by kinetic adsorption tests. There was a concentration decrease in the solution to 0.476 mg L-1 until the equilibrium for the highest concentration studied (1.0 mg L-1), corresponding to 52.4 % decrease of the initial concentration. The experimental data were well described by a pseudo-second order diffusion model with determination coefficients varying from 0.966 to 0.981. The adsorption capacity increased with temperature increasing indicating an endothermic process and chemisorption. This is evidenced by the long time required to reach equilibrium, 12 – 24 h, for three concentrations of BSA solutions studied. Equilibrium adsorption isotherms were satisfactorily described by Langmuir model. Values of equilibrium parameter constant, RL, were found to be 0 < RL <1 and confirmed that the C. hildmannianus is favorable for adsorption of BSA under the conditions studied. It can be concluded that the adsorbent studied has good perspective to be used as adsorbent material inprotein removal from food industry wastewaters since it has a good adsorption capacity (ranged from 360.5 to 554.5 mg g-1).
