Abstract

LAVADO-MEZA, Carmencita; SUN-KOU, María R.; CASTRO-ARROYO, Tracy Kate  and  BONILLA-MANCILLA, Humberto Dax. Biosorption of lead (II) in aqueous solution with biomass of prickly pear cladodes (Opuntia ficus indica). Rev.Colomb.Quim. [online]. 2020, vol.49, n.3, pp.36-46.  Epub Dec 20, 2020. ISSN 0120-2804.  https://doi.org/10.15446/rcq.v49n3.85823.

The removal of lead from aqueous solutions by the biomass of prickly pear cladodes (BCT), a species found in abundance in the Sierra region in Peru, was investigated. The physical and chemical properties of BCT were determined by FTIR and SEM/EDX techniques. The FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of -OH, C-O-C, C=O and -NH2 groups which would interact with the metal. The SEM micrograph revealed that the surface morphology of the BCT shows adequate porosity for biosorption. In a discontinuous system, the highest biosorption capacity (qe) was obtained with a BCT mass/volume ratio of 4 g/L, pH 4.5 and 1 h of contact time. Biosorption followed a pseudo-second order kinetic model and the intraparticle diffusion process was the main factor controlling speed. Data at equilibrium were correlated using five models (Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, DR, and Redlich-Peterson) and were better fitted to the Langmuir model, which would indicate that the process is carried out in energetically homogeneous active centers, the value of qe maximum was 50.25 mg/g. The results obtained demonstrate that BCT can be used as an efficient biosorbent for the treatment of waters contaminated with Pb (II).

Keywords : biosorbents; heavy metals; removal; water treatment.

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