Low cost biosorbent (Melon Peel) for effective removal of Cu (II), Cd (II), and Pb (II) ions from aqueous solution

Abstract

In this paper, we develop Melon Peel as a new biosorbent, with low cost and high-efficiency biosorption of (Cu, Cd, and Pb) (II)) from aqueous solution. Melon peel after physical treatment was modified with Sodium Hydroxide(NaOH) for preparation of modified melon peel biosorbent (NMPb). For physicochemical changes in the biosorbent surface and functions groups, before and after the biosorption of heavy metals were investigated by using (BET, SEM, and FTIR) instruments. The FTIR shows after chemical treatment the functions groups of biosorbent was incensed, according to BET and SEM data the and Pores surface of biosorbent was also increased those are important factors for heavy metals biosorption. For well-known biosorption of heavy metals by NMPb, data were placed in the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms models. Biosorption of heavy metals by NMPb, under the effect of pH, biosorbent dosage, instill concertation and contact time were studied. Langmuir isotherm shows better fit for heavy metals biosorption than the Freundlich isotherm. Under specified conditions, maximum single metal biosorption capacities of the NMPb (qmax) for (Cu, Cd, and Pb) (II)) were 77.76, 76.16, and 191.93 mg/g, under Langmuir modals equations. Biosorption with maxed metals condition for (Cu, Cd, and Pb) (II)) is very less than biosorb by the biosorbent in single metal condition. Biosorption kinetic data fitted well with pseudo-second-order kinetic model (r2 ≤ 0.9996, 0.9995 and 0.9878) for (Cu, Cd, and Pb) (II)) giving equilibrium rate constant (k2) of 0.07, 0.05 and 0.01 g mg−1 min−1 for (Cu, Cd, and Pb) (II)) loaded with (NMPb). Bioavailability reconstruction and reusability were also assessed.

Keywords

• Biosorption
• (Cu, Cd and Pb) (II)) metals
• Melon peel
• Physicochemical properties
• Isotherms
• Kinetics