Eco-friend shellfish powder of the mussel Brachidontes variabilis for uptake lead (II) ions

Abstract

This study aims to employ clam powder as an environmentally acceptable sorbent to capture lead(II) from an aquatic media. Mussel Brachidontes variabilis “Mytilus arabicus” shells collected from the intertidal zone of the Gulf of Suez for producing shellfish powder (SFP). Before and after lead loading, SFP sorbent was characterized using X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra, transmission electron microscope (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive X-ray (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Maximum Pb(II) ion removal capacity of SFP sorbent was done as a function of shacking duration interval, SFP particle size, pH, Pb (II) ion concentration, SFP dose, temperature, and agitation rate. Numerous mathematical kinetic and isothermal approaches were used to equilibrium experimental data to validate the highest bio-sorption capabilities of SFP (in mg g-1). Optimal conditions were determined to be 90 min, 0.063 mm SFP particle size, pH 5.5, 130 mg L-1 Pb(II) ions in 50 mL solution, 0.05 g SFP, 25o C, and 250 rpm. In this sorption process, the Qasi-1st order and monolayer Langmuir isothermal simulations were prominent. In terms of thermodynamics, the capturing of Pb (II) by SFP was spontaneous (−ΔGo), endothermic (+ΔHo), and highly disordered at the interface of phases (+ΔSo). In addition, SFP sorbent was used well to uptake Pb ions from effluents wastewater and various water matrices.