Abstract
This paper exploits, through modeling and optimization, the experimental laboratory data on the biosorption of heavy metal ions Pb(II), Cd(II), and Zn(II) from aqueous media using soybean and soybean waste biomasses. The biosorption modeling was performed using the Response Surface Methodology, followed by optimization based on numerical methods. The aim of the modeling was to establish the most probable mathematical relationship between the dependent variables (the biosorption efficiency of the biosorbents when adsorbing metal ions, R(%), and the biosorption capacity of sorbents, q(mg/g)) and the process parameters (pH; sorbent dose, DS (g/L); initial metal ion concentration in solution, c0 (mg/L); contact time, tc (min); temperature, T (°C)), validated by methodologies specific to the multiple regression analysis. Afterward, sets of solutions were obtained through optimization that correlate various values of the process parameters to maximize the objective function. These solutions also confirmed the performance of soybean waste biomass in the removal of heavy metal ions from polluted aqueous effluents. The results were validated experimentally.
Highlights
Environmental quality has deteriorated, mainly as a consequence of the diversification of anthropogenic activities, population growth, unplanned urbanization, rapid industrialization, and the irrational exploitation of resources
In the evaluation of the biosorption performance of a material for certain metal ions, the first step is to establish the optimal experimental conditions with which to achieve the biosorption process. The fulfillment of this desideratum involves the study of the influence of the main experimental parameters on the biosorption capacity of the material used as a biosorbent for each metal ion separately
In this paper, the empirical mathematical modeling of the biosorption process of Pb(II), Cd(II), and Zn(II) ions on soybean-based biosorbents was performed by applying the Response Surface Methodology, followed by the optimization of the biosorption process, as prerequisites for scale-up
Summary
Environmental quality has deteriorated, mainly as a consequence of the diversification of anthropogenic activities, population growth, unplanned urbanization, rapid industrialization, and the irrational exploitation of resources. In recent decades, efforts to improve some innovative and ground-breaking processes have been intensified so as to make it possible to eliminate the pollutants from the environment with increased efficiencies. These processes should be capable of removing pollutants from the environment and, at the same time, protect human health by combining the two major challenges, resource consumption and pollution, by harnessing natural resources and, in particular, waste, and by using waste to improve the quality of the environment by decontaminating its components [1–3]. Humanity is faced with two challenges: ensuring the sustainable consumption of natural resources and preventing the pollution of the environment [4–6]
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