Abstract
Lead (Pb) is a ubiquitous pollutant which poses serious threats to plants, animals and humans once entered into the food chain via contaminated industrial effluents on their discharge into the surface of water bodies and/or geological materials. This study aimed to examine and compare the biosorption potential of natural sugarcane bagasse (NB), pyrolysed sugarcane bagasse (PB) and acid assisted pyrolysed sugarcane bagasse (APB) for the removal of Pb from contaminated water. To explore this objective, a series of batch experiments were conducted at various adsorbent mass (0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0 g per 100 ml contaminated water), initial Pb concentration (7, 15, 30, 60 and 120 ppm), and contact time (7, 15, 30, 60 and 120 min). Results revealed that all the tested bio-sorbents have potential to adsorb and remove Pb ions from the contaminated water. In this regard, APB proved more effective since it removed 98% of Pb from aqueous solution at initial Pb concentration of 7 ppm and mass of 0.25 g per 100 ml of aqueous solution. The respective values in case of NB and PB were 90 and 95%. For a given adsorbent type, Pb adsorption decreased by increasing the mass from 0.25 to 1.0 g per 100 ml of aqueous solution. However, the greatest Pb removal occurred at adsorbent mass of 1.0 g per 100 ml of aqueous solution. Initial Pb concentration had a great impact on Pb adsorption and removal by adsorbent. The former increased and the latter decreased with the increase in initial Pb concentration from seven to 120 ppm. At seven ppm Pb concentration, maximum Pb removal took place irrespective to the adsorbent type. Out of the total Pb adsorption and removal, maximum contribution occurred within 15 min of contact time between the adsorbate and adsorbent, which slightly increased till 30 min, thereafter, it reached to equilibrium. Application of equilibrium isotherm models revealed that our results were better fitted with Freundlich adsorption isotherm model. Overall, and for the reasons detailed above, it is concluded that sugarcane bagasse has capabilities to adsorb and remove Pb ions from contaminated water. Its bio-sorption potential was considerably increased after pyrolysis and acid treatment.
Highlights
Good quality water is essential for an organism’s life and is used for agricultural, industrial and domestic purposes (Renge, Khedkar & Pande, 2012)
Initial Pb concentration had a great impact on Pb adsorption and removal by adsorbent
Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR) spectra indicate that natural sugarcane bagasse (NB) and pyrolysed sugarcane bagasse (PB) exhibit the functional groups as –OH, C=O, and sp3 C-H in their chemical structure
Summary
Good quality water is essential for an organism’s life and is used for agricultural, industrial and domestic purposes (Renge, Khedkar & Pande, 2012) These agricultural, industrial and domestic activities are polluting freshwater bodies day by day. The aqueous wastes of manufacturing process like television tube, paints, pigments, fuel, matches and explosives result in contamination of the wastewater (Ahalya, Kanamadi & Ramachandra, 2005). When this wastewater is exposed to the ecosystems, the metal ions transfer and accumulate into the human body either directly through intake or through the food chain (Abdel Salam, Makki & Abdelaal, 2011). Pb affects kidney, central nervous system and reproductive system (Badmus, Audu & Anyata, 2007)
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