Biosorption of heavy metals from aqueous solutions by Saccharomyces Cerevisiae

Salah N. Farhan,Anees A. Khadom

doi:10.1007/s40090-015-0038-8

Salah N. Farhan, Anees A. Khadom

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40090-015-0038-8

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Abstract

The present work evaluates the performance of the yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae to remove heavy metals from aqueous solutions. The effect of pH, temperature, initial concentration, contact time, and biosorbent dosage on biosorption capacity is studied. Experiment results show that metal uptake is a rapid process at pH values (5.0–6.0), and the order of accumulated metal ions is Pb > Zn > Cr > Co > Cd > Cu. The biosorption process obeys Freundlich and the Langmuir adsorption isotherms. The kinetics of metal ions biosorption could be described by Lagergren and Ho models. Nitric acid with low concentration of 0.05 N is effective in desorbing the biosorbed metal ions. Sodium hydroxide solution of 0.2 M is effective in regenerating the yeast; the regenerated yeast could be used for at least six cycles of biosorption, without losing its metal removal capacity. Carboxyl, amine, and phosphate groups present in the yeast were found to be the main biosorption sites for metal ions.

Highlights

In recent years, extensive attention has been paid on management of environmental pollution casual by hazardous materials such as heavy metals
The low biosorption capacity at pH values below 4.0 was attributed to hydrogen ions that compete with metal ions on the sorption sites
The uptake capacity increases with increasing pH and the maximum capacity values have been observed at pH 6.0, 5.5, 2.5, 5.5, 6.0, and 5.5 for lead, cadmium, chrome, copper, cobalt, and zinc, respectively

Summary

Introduction

Extensive attention has been paid on management of environmental pollution casual by hazardous materials such as heavy metals. The potential of S. cerevisiae as a biosorbent material for the removal these metals was studied, effect of different treated methods on metal uptake of heavy ions at different pH values was studied .

Results

Conclusion