Abstract
The present study explores the sorption properties of shelled Moringa oleifera seeds (SMOS) for removal of two environmentally important oxidation states of chromium (trivalent and hexavalent) from an aqueous system on the laboratory scale. Sorption studies reveal the optimum conditions for the removal of 81.02%; Cr (III) and 88.15% Cr (VI) as follows: biomass dosage (4.0 g), metal concentration [25mg/L for Cr (III); 50mg/L for Cr (VI)], contact time (40 minutes) at pH 6.5 and 2.5 respectively. The adsorption data were found to fit well both the Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms. Characterization of the seed powder by FTIR showed the clear presence of amino acid moieties having both positively charged amino and negatively charged carboxylic groups and confirmed that biosorption involves amino acid-chromium interactions. SEM studies of native and exhausted [Cr(III) and Cr(VI)] treated SMOS revealed large spherical clusters having a pore area of 8.66 µm2 in the case of native SMOS while dense agglomerated etched dendrite type morphology have a pore area of 0.80 µm2 in Cr (III) and 0.78 µm2 in Cr (VI) treated SMOS The spent biosorbent was regenerated and found to be effectively reusable for four cycles.
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