Enhanced Removal of Lead by Chemically and Biologically Treated Carbonaceous Materials

Mohamed E Mahmoud,Maher M Osman,Tarek M Abdel-Fattah,Somia B Ahmed

doi:10.1100/2012/604198

Mohamed E Mahmoud, Maher M Osman + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1100/2012/604198

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Abstract

Hybrid sorbents and biosorbents were synthesized via chemical and biological treatment of active carbon by simple and direct redox reaction followed by surface loading of baker's yeast. Surface functionality and morphology of chemically and biologically modified sorbents and biosorbents were studied by Fourier Transform Infrared analysis and scanning electron microscope imaging. Hybrid carbonaceous sorbents and biosorbents were characterized by excellent efficiency and superiority toward lead(II) sorption compared to blank active carbon providing a maximum sorption capacity of lead(II) ion as 500 μmol g−1. Sorption processes of lead(II) by these hybrid materials were investigated under the influence of several controlling parameters such as pH, contact time, mass of sorbent and biosorbent, lead(II) concentration, and foreign ions. Lead(II) sorption mechanisms were found to obey the Langmuir and BET isotherm models. The potential applications of chemically and biologically modified-active carbonaceous materials for removal and extraction of lead from real water matrices were also studied via a double-stage microcolumn technique. The results of this study were found to denote to superior recovery values of lead (95.0–99.0 ± 3.0–5.0%) by various carbonaceous-modified-bakers yeast biosorbents.

Highlights

Lead is one of the highly toxic heavy metals and widely characterized as the major source of water pollution
The permissible level for lead in drinking water is 0.05 ppm according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Surface functionality of carbon sorbents is characterized by its responsibility for all activity and reactivity as well as capability for all adsorption properties and processes

Summary

Introduction

Lead is one of the highly toxic heavy metals and widely characterized as the major source of water pollution. Lead is well recognized for direct and negative impact on the human health as well as biological organisms and ecological system [1, 2]. Lead poisoning in humans causes severe damage to the kidney, nervous system, reproductive system, liver, as well as brain and causes illness or death. Severe exposure to lead has been connected with sterility, abortion, stillbirths, and neonatal death [3,4,5]. The permissible level for lead in drinking water is 0.05 ppm according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The presence of very low concentration levels of lead in drinking water is considered as highly toxic and requires more efficient removal, extraction, and treatment methodologies [3]

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