Abstract
The potential use of acid-treated biomass ofTrichoderma gamsiito remove hexavalent chromium ions from electroplating industrial effluent was evaluated. Electroplating industrial effluent contaminated with 5000 mg/L of Cr(VI) ions, collected from industrial estate of Gujarat, India, was mixed with acid-treated biomass ofT. gamsiiat biomass dose of 10 mg/mL. Effect of contact time and initial Cr(VI) ions was studied. The biosorption of Cr(VI) ions attained equilibrium at time interval of 240 minutes with maximum removal of 87% at preadjusted initial Cr(VI) concentration of 100 mg/L. The biosorption of Cr(VI) ions by biomass ofT. gamsiiincreased as the initial Cr(VI) ion concentration of the effluent was adjusted in increasing range of 100–500 mg/L. At 500 mg/L, initial Cr(VI) concentration, acid-treated biomass ofT. gamsiishowed maximum biosorption capacity of 44.8 mg/g biomass from electroplating effluent. The Cr(VI) biosorption data were analysed using adsorption isotherms, that is, Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm. The correlation regression coefficients (R2) and isotherm constant values show that the biosorption process follows Freundlich isotherm (R2>0.9,n>1, andKf=8.3). The kinetic study shows that biosorption of Cr(VI) ions by acid-treated biomass ofT. gamsiifollows pseudo-second-order rate of reaction at increasing concentration of Cr(VI). In conclusion, acid-treated biomass ofT. gamsiican be used as biosorbent for Cr(VI) ions removal from Cr(VI)-contaminated wastewater generated by industries.
Highlights
Variety of anthropogenic sources including leather tanning, electroplating, wood preservation, metal finishing, pigment, and dye industries contribute towards hexavalent chromium in the environment [1,2,3]
The high magnitude of k f and n illustrates high adsorption capacity of biomass. All these results showed that Freundlich isotherm model fitted the results quite well which are in agreement with the heterogeneity of sorbent (T. gamsii biomass) surface
Acid-treated biomass of T. gamsii is effective in removing Cr(VI) ions from acidic electroplating effluent contaminated with 5000 mg/L of Cr(VI) and other coexisting metal ions
Summary
Variety of anthropogenic sources including leather tanning, electroplating, wood preservation, metal finishing, pigment, and dye industries contribute towards hexavalent chromium in the environment [1,2,3]. Many conventional methods including chemical precipitation, chemical coagulation, ion exchange, electrochemical methods, adsorption using activated carbon and natural zeolite, membrane process, and ultrafiltration have been employed by several industries to remove Cr(VI) from their effluent [4,5,6]. These methods suffer from several disadvantages which include high operating cost, excess production of sludge, decrease in removal efficiency in presence of other metals, and large consumption of chemicals [7]. Remediation of Cr(VI) demands some cost effective, economic, efficient, and eco-friendly methods
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