Kinetic modelling of cadmium and lead removal by aquatic mosses

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2014

Authors

R. J. E. Martins (Author) FEUP; V. J. P. Vilar (Author) FEUP; R. A. R. Boaventura (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Brazilian Journal of Chemical Engineering

Vol. 31 No. 1

Pages: 229-242

ISSN: 0104-6632

Publisher: Brazilian Society of Chemical Engineering

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 23 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 35 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Engineering and technology > Environmental engineering

CORDIS: Technological sciences > Technology > Environmental technology

Associated Projects

LA 20 - PROJECTO ESTRATÉGICO - LA 20 - 2013-2014

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-009-837

DOI: 10.1590/s0104-66322014000100021

Abstract (EN): Because biosorption is a low cost and effective method for treating metal-bearing wastewaters, understanding the process kinetics is relevant for design purposes. In the present study, the performance of the aquatic moss Fontinalis antipyretica for removing cadmium and lead from simulated wastewaters has been evaluated. Five kinetic models (first-order, pseudo-first-order, Elovich, modified Ritchie second-order and pseudo-second-order) were fitted to the experimental data and compared. Previously, the effect of parameters such as the initial solution pH, contact time, and initial metal ion concentration on biosorption was investigated. The initial pH of the solution was found to have an optimum value in the range of 4.0-6.0. The equilibrium sorption capacity of cadmium and lead by Fontinalis antipyretica increased with the initial metal concentration. For an initial metal concentration of 10 mg L-1, the uptake capacity of the moss, at equilibrium, is the same for both metals (4.8 mg g(-1)). Nevertheless, when the initial concentration increases up to 100 mg L-1, the uptake of Pb(II) was higher than 78%. The pseudo-second order biosorption kinetics provided the better correlation with the experimental data(R-2 >= 0.999).

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 14