Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Biosorption of Mercury by Reed (Phragmites australis) as a Potential Clean Water Technology

  • Published:
Water, Air, & Soil Pollution Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Heavy metals are causing serious environmental and health problems worldwide, especially in places where mining is one of the major drivers of the country’s economy. Conventional technologies are considered expensive when providing the safe water; for this reason, new clean water technologies are needed. Biosorption has gained attention as a cost-effective system that uses biological materials to remove heavy metals from water; however, it can be noted that an efficient and proven biosorbent for several heavy metal has not been found. Reed (Phragmites australis) has demonstrated to be a potential biosorbent to remove several heavy metals because it is commonly found as heavy metal accumulator in wetlands. This study is focused on mercury (Hg) removal by using reed as biosorbent. Batch experiments were conducted and the microstructure of the biosorbent was analyzed by scanning electron microscope. The Langmuir isotherm and Freundlich isotherm model was applied for the data obtained. The pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models were used to test adsorption kinetics data to investigate the mechanism of biosorption. A comparison with the performance of various adsorbents reported in literature was made. The results contribute to understand the use of Phragmites australis as potential biomass for biosorbent technology since it removed mercury (Hg) effectively in high concentrations. This study supports a variety of researches to achieve clean water technologies, and biosorption has proved to be a useful alternative to the conventional systems for the removal of heavy metal ions from aqueous solution.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Al Rmalli, S. W., Dahmani, A. A., Abuein, M. M., & Gleza, A. A. (2008). Biosorption of mercury from aqueous solutions by powdered leaves of castor tree (Ricinus communis L.). Journal of Hazardous Materials, 152, 955–959.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alloway, B. J. (2013). Heavy metals and metalloids as micronutrients for plant and animals. In B. Alloway (Ed.), Heavy Metals in Soils. Environmental Pollution, vol 22. Dordrecht: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Amabilis-Sosa LE, Siebe C, Moeller-Chávez G, Duran-Domínguez-De-Bazúa MC (2016) Remoción de mercurio por Phragmites australis empleada como barrera biológica en humedales artificiales inoculados con cepas tolerantes a metales pesados. Revista Internacional de Contaminación Ambiental 32(1):47–53. https://www.revistascca.unam.mx/rica/index.php/rica/article/view/45493.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ashraf, M. A., Mahmood, K., Wajid, A., Maah, M. J. & Yusoff, I. 2011. Study of low cost biosorbent for biosorption of heavy metals. International conference on food engineering and biotechnology, 9, 60–68.

  • Bulgariu, L., Ratoi, M., Bulgariu, D., & Macoveanu, M. (2009). Adsorption potential of mercury (II) from aqueous solution onto Romanian peat moss. Journal of Environmental Science and Health. Part A, Toxic/Hazardous Substances & Environmental Engineering, 44(7), 700–706.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Clarkson, T. W., & Magos, L. (2006). The toxicology of mercury and its chemical compounds. Critical Review in Toxicology, 36, 609–662.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Coelho, J. P., Pereira, M. E., Duarte, A., & Pardal, M. A. (2005). Macroalgae response to a mercury contamination gradient in a temperate coastal lagoon (Ria de Aveiro, Portugal). Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 65, 492–500.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Deans, J. R., & Dixon, B. G. (1998). Uptake of Pb2+ and Cu2+ by novel biopolymers. Water Research, 26, 469–472.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duffus, J. H. (2002). “Heavy metals”—a meaningless term? Pure and Applied Chemistry, 74(5), 793–807.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Duruibe, J. O., Ogwuegbu, M. O. C., & Egwurugwu, J. N. (2007). Heavy metal pollution and human biotoxic effects. International Journal of Physical Sciences, 2, 112–118.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eom, Y., Won, J. H., Ryu, J. Y., & Lee, T. G. (2011). Biosorption of mercury (II) ions from aqueous solution by garlic (Allium sativum L.) powder. Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering, 28(6), 1439–1443.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Farooq, U., Kozinski, J. A., Khan, M. A., & Athar, M. (2010). Biosorption of heavy metal ions using wheat based biosorbents—a review of the recent literature. Bioresource Technology, 101, 5043–5053.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Febrianto, J., Kosasih, A. N., Sunarso, J., Ju, Y. H., Indraswati, N., & Ismadji, S. (2009). Equilibrium and kinetic studies in adsorption of heavy metals using biosorbent: a summary of recent studies. Journal Hazardous Materials, 162(2–3), 616–645.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gupta, V. K., Gupta, M., & Sharma, S. (2001). Process development for the removal of lead and chromium from aqueous solutions using red mud—an aluminum industry waste. Water Research, 35(5), 1125–1134.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hashim, M. A., Mukhopadhyay, S., Sahu, J. N., & Sengupta, B. (2011). Remediation technologies for heavy metal contaminated ground water. Journal of Environmental Management, 92, 2355–2388.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Herrero, R., Lodeiro, P., Rey-Castro, C., Vilariño, T., & Sastre de Vicente, M. E. (2005). Removal of inorganic mercury from aqueous solutions by biomass of the marine macrolaga Cystoseira baccata. Water Research, 39, 3199–3210.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ho, Y. S. (2006). Second-order kinetic model for sorption of cadmium onto tree fern: a comparison of linear and non–linear methods. Water Research, 40(1), 119–125.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ho, Y. S., & McKay, G. (1999). The sorption of lead (II) ions on peat. Water Research, 33(2), 578–584.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ho, Y. S., Wase, D., & Forster, C. (1996). Removal of lead ions from aqueous solution using sphagnum moss peat as adsorbent. Water SA, 22, 219–224.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khoramzadeh, E., Nasernejad, B., & Halladj, R. (2013). Mercury biosorption from aqueous solutions by sugarcane bagasse. Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers, 44, 266–269.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Langmuir, I. (1917). The constitution and fundamental properties of solids and liquids. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 39, 1848.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Largitte, A., & Pasquier, R. (2016). A review of the kinetics adsorption models and their application to the adsorption of lead by an activated carbón. Chemical Engineering Research and Design, 109, 495–504.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lominchar, M. A., Sierra, M. J., & Millan, R. (2015). Accumulation of mercury in Typha domingensis under field conditions. Chemosphere, 119, 994–999.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marrugo-Negrete, J., Enamorado-Montes, G., Durango-Hernandez, J., Pinedo-Hernandez, J., & Dies, S. (2017). Removal of mercury from gold mines effluents using Limmoncharis flava in constructed wetlands. Chemosphere, 167, 188–192.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McKay, G., & Ho, Y. S. (1999). Pseudo–second order model for sorption processes. Process Biochemistry, 34, 451–465.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Montazer-Rahmatia, M. M., Rabbania, R., Abdolalia, A., & Keshtkarb, A. R. (2011). Kinetics and equilibrium studies on biosorption of cadmium, lead, and nickel ions from aqueous solutions by intact and chemically modified brown algae. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 185, 401–407.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morel, F. M. M., Kraepiel, A. M. L., & Amyot, M. (1998). The chemical cycle and bioaccumulation of mercury. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics, 29, 543–566.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Müller, A. K., Westergaard, K., Christensen, S., & Sørensen, S. J. (2001). The effect of long–term mercury pollution on the soil microbial community. FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 36(1), 11–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murata, K. & Sakamoto, M. (2011). Minamata Disease. In J. O. Nriagu (Ed.), Encyclopidia of Environmental Health, volume 3, pp. 774–780, Elsevier.

  • Plaza, J., Viera, M., Donati, E., & Guibal, E. (2011). Biosorption of mercury by Macrocystis pyrifera and Undaria pinnatifida: influence of zinc, cadmium and nickel. Journal of Environmental Sciences, 23(11), 1778–1786.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rae, I. B., Gibb, S. W., & Lu, S. (2009). Biosorption of Hg from aqueous solutions by crab carapace. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 164, 1601–1604.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rawajfih, Z., & Nsour, N. (2008). Thermodinamic analysis of sorption isotherms of chromium (VI) anionic species on reed biomass. The Journal of Chemical Thermodynamics, 40, 846–851.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sag, Y., & Kutsal, T. (2001). Recent trends in the biosorption of heavy metals: a review. Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering, 6(6), 376–385.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saglam, A., Yalcinkaya, Y., Denizli, A., Arica, M. Y., Genc, Ö., & Bektas, S. (2002). Biosorption of mercury by carboxymethylcellulose and immobilized Phanerochaete chrysosporium. Microchemical Journal, 71, 73–81.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sanita di Toppi, L., & Gabbrielli, R. (1999). Response to cadmium in higher plants. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 41, 105–130.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sari, A., & Tuzen, M. (2008). Biosorption of cadmium (II) from aqueous solution by red algae, (Ceramium virgatum): equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamic studies. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 157, 448–454.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Soto-Rios, P. C., Nakano, K., Fujibayashi, M., Leon-Romero, M., & Nishimura, O. (2014). Lead removal efficiency using biosorbents as alternative materials for permeable reactive barriers. Water Science and Technology, 70(2), 307–314.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Soto-Rios, P. C., Nakano, K., Leon-Romero, M., Aikawa, Y., Arai, S., & Nishimura, O. (2015). Differences in the removal mechanism of Undaria pinnatifida and Phragmites australis as biomaterials for lead removal. Water Science and Technology, 72(7), 1226–1233.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Southichak, B., Nakano, K., Nomura, M., Chiba, N., & Nishimura, O. (2006). Phragmites australis: a novel biosorbent for the removal of heavy metals from aqueous solution. Water Research, 40, 2295–2302.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Srivastava, J., Kalra, S. J. S., & Naraian, R. (2014). Environmental perspectives of Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. Ex. Steudel. Applied Water Science, 4, 193–202.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Srivastava, S., Agrawal, S. B., & Mondal, M. K. (2015). Biosorption isotherms and kinetics on removal of Cr (VI) using native and chemically modified Lagerstroemia speciosa bark. Ecological Engineering, 85, 56–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Srivastavaa, P., Singha, B., & Angoveb, M. (2005). Competitive adsorption behavior of heavy metals on kaolinite. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 290(1), 28–38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Svecova, L., Spanelova, M., Kubal, M., & Guibal, E. (2006). Cadmium, lead and mercury biosorption on waste fungal biomass issued from fermentation industry. I, equilibrium studies. Separation and Purification Technology, 52, 142–153.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tan, K. F., Chu, K. H., & Hashim, M. A. (2002). Continuous packed bed biosorption of copper by immobilized seaweed biomass. European Journal of Mineral Processing and Environmental Protection, 2(3), 246–252.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (1985). Drinking water criteria document for mercury. Final draft. Cincinnati: Environmental criteria and assessment office.

    Google Scholar 

  • Velasquez, L., & Dussan, J. (2009). Biosorption and bioaccumulation of heavy metals on dead and living biomass of Bacillus sphaericus. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 167, 713–716.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yabanli, M., Yozukmaz, A., & Sel, F. (2014). Heavy metal accumulateon in the leaves, stem and root of the invasive submerged macrophyte Myriophyllum spicatum L. (Haloragaceae): an example of Kadlin Creek (Mugla, Turkey). Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology, 57(3), 434–440.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yavuz, H., Denizli, A., Güngünes, H., Safarikova, M., & Safarik, I. (2006). Biosorption of mercury on magnetically modified yeast cells. Separation and Purification Technology, 52, 253–260.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zeroual, Y., Moutaouakkil, A., Dzairi, F. Z., Talbi, M., Chung, P. U., Lee, K., & Blaghen, M. (2003). Biosorption of mercury from aqueous solution by Ulva lactuca biomass. Bioresource Technology, 90, 349–351.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Aoba-ku, Aramaki, 6-6-06, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8578, Japan

    Paula Cecilia Soto-Ríos

  2. Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, Aoba-ku, Aramaki, 6-6-06, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8579, Japan

    Paula Cecilia Soto-Ríos, Marco Antonio León-Romero, Otongtuya Sukhbaatar & Osamu Nishimura

Authors
  1. Paula Cecilia Soto-Ríos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Marco Antonio León-Romero
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Otongtuya Sukhbaatar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Osamu Nishimura
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Paula Cecilia Soto-Ríos.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Soto-Ríos, P.C., León-Romero, M.A., Sukhbaatar, O. et al. Biosorption of Mercury by Reed (Phragmites australis) as a Potential Clean Water Technology. Water Air Soil Pollut 229, 328 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-018-3978-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-018-3978-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation