Biosorption of aluminum ions onto Rhodococcus opacus from wastewaters

doi:10.1016/j.cej.2010.03.025

Chemical Engineering Journal

Volume 161, Issues 1–2, 1 July 2010, Pages 1-8

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2010.03.025 Get rights and content

Abstract

This fundamental work deals with the biosorption removal of Al (III) using a Rhodococcus opacus strain. Several variables that have an effect on the capacity of aluminum biosorption from water streams by R. opacus were studied, particularly the effects of solution pH, biosorbent concentration, metal concentration, contact time, ionic strength and temperature of biosorption. The most favorable biosorption pH value of Al (III) was determinate as around 5.0 and the maximum sorption capacity was found to be 41.59 mg g⁻¹ at pH 5.0 (initial concentration of 50 mg L⁻¹) and temperature 25 °C.

The experimental data obtained have been analyzed using four two-parameter models (Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Dubinin-Radushkevich) and two three-parameter models (Redlich–Peterson and Sips). In order to determine the best fit isotherm, three error analysis methods were used to evaluate the data: correlation coefficient, chi-square and residual root mean square error. Dynamics of sorption process were studied and the values of rate constant of biosorption were calculated. The uptake capacity is a function of pH solution, ionic strength and biosorbent concentration.

Introduction

Metals are known to be essential for all living organisms. Nevertheless, when the concentrations exceed certain limits, the metals can become toxic and harmful to them. The presence of low concentrations of aluminum ions in water streams can reach the food chain and produce a variety of neurological and skeletal disorders in humans. For this reason, the environmental pollution control authorities have imposed a tight control on the discharge of wastewater containing heavy metals from industries to watercourses [1]. Precipitation, ion exchange, adsorption, membrane technology and reduction methods are employed for metal treatment and recovery [2].

On the other hand, heavy metals’ biosorption is a promising procedure for the treatment of wastewaters containing metallic species by using wastes from agricultural and industrial activities, seaweed and specially propagated biomasses of bacteria, yeast and fungi as alternative sorbent materials [3], [4]. The literature shows few works related to the biosorption of light metals such as aluminum [5], [6], [7], [8].

Investigation of the physicochemical mechanisms involved in metal removal (such as physical adsorption, ion exchange, surface complexation and surface micro-precipitation) is a fundamental step for the optimization of the operating conditions, product development and process design [9].

The aim of this research was to study the biosorption mechanism of Al (III) onto Rhodococcus opacus strain and contribute to a better understanding and modeling of the equilibrium and dynamic processes. The sorption capacity of Al (III) was evaluated by varying experimental conditions, viz. solution pH, biosorbent concentration, ionic strength, contact time and temperature. Furthermore the R. opacus was characterized by Fourier transformer infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Zeta potential. The experimental data were correlated to different kinetic and isotherm models and the corresponding parameters were determined.

Section snippets

Bacteria and media

R. opacus obtained from the culture collection of the Tropical Foundation of Researches and Technology André Tosello (SP, Brazil), was used in this study. The bacterium was grown in a liquid media containing: 3 g L⁻¹ malt extract, 3 g L⁻¹ yeast extract, 5 g L⁻¹ peptone and 10 g L⁻¹ glucose at 28 °C under agitation at 175 rpm. All the products used in a medium were from Vetec (RJ, Brazil). The medium was sterilized by autoclaving at a pressure 1 atm. The pH of the grown medium was adjusted to 7.2 by the

Zeta potential measurements

All bacterial cells are covered by a cell wall which can be composed of peptidoglycan, (lipo-) polysaccharides, (lipo-) proteins and enzymes. These macromolecules have shown the presence of carboxyl, sulfate, phosphate and amino functional groups. The presence of anionic and cationic groups conferred the amphoteric behavior to the cell wall. Studies by Van Der Wal et al. [19] have shown that anionic groups dominate over cationic groups.

This seems to be a general phenomenon and it is in

Conclusion

Biosorption performances of R. opacus are studied in terms of kinetic and biosorption isotherms for the removal of Al (III) from aqueous solutions. The kinetic experiments show that the biosorption is rapid and maximum uptake capacity achieved in 20 min. Kinetic models evaluated included the pseudo-first, pseudo-second-order model, intraparticle diffusion and Boy's equation. The kinetic data were well fitted by pseudo-second-order model due to their high regression coefficient and low chi-square

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support given by FAPERJ, CNPq and CAPES.

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Biosorption of aluminum ions onto Rhodococcus opacus from wastewaters

Abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

Bacteria and media

Zeta potential measurements

Conclusion

Acknowledgements

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Trends in Biochemical Science

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Journal of Hazardous Materials

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Minerals Engineering

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Colloids and Surfaces A

Journal of Hazardous Materials

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Process Biochemistry

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