Lead Biosorption by Salvinia Natans Biomass: Equilibrium Study

Abstract

The high amount of residual metal ions released in wastewaters from process such as mining, painting, smelting, batteries manufacture, and others, becomes a problem to the environment. In view of this, the adsorption process arises as an alternative treatment to metal ion removal. The use of some biological materials as adsorbents like aquatic plants has shown high affinity by metal ions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of aquatic macrophyte Salvinia natans in Pb²⁺ removal. Langmuir model best fitted to equilibrium data and the maximum uptake capacity was 0.614 mmol.g^-1. In order to know the biosorption mechanism FT-IR analyses were performed for S. natans before and after uptake of metal ion. The results showed different functional groups on the biomass surface and the ability of these groups bind with Pb²⁺ ion in aqueous solution.