Abstract
As concerns are increasing about drinking water contamination with heavy metals, we investigated the possible use of a pellicle (floating biofilm)-like biofilm-producing microorganism as a biosorbent for the treatment of Pb(II) in aqueous solutions. The bacterial pellicle-producing Methylobacterium hispanicum EM2 strain (EM2) was newly isolated from mine tailing soil, and we investigated its use as a biosorbent for treating a Pb(II)-contaminated aqueous solution. The EM2 strain was strongly resistant to Pb(II) up to a concentration of 800 mg/L, and achieved remarkable adsorption performance (adsorption rate and maximum adsorption capacity of 96% ± 3.2% and 79.84 mg/g, respectively) under optimal conditions (pH, biomass content, contact time, and initial Pb(II) concentration of 7.1 g/L, 60 min, and 10 mg/L, respectively). The adsorption of Pb(II) was characterized by scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy and Fourier-transform infrared analysis. The equilibrium data matched the Freundlich isotherm model well, indicating the occurrence of multilayer adsorption of Pb(II) onto the heterogeneous surface of the EM2 strain, which was also consistent with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R2 = 0.98). The high Pb(II) removal efficiency was also confirmed by conducting an adsorption experiment using Pb(II)-contaminated industrial wastewater.
Highlights
Due to the increasing concern about the public health and environmental problems caused byPb(II) contamination, developing highly efficient and stable treatment methods is necessary
The equilibrium data matched the Freundlich isotherm model well, indicating the occurrence of multilayer adsorption of Pb(II) onto the heterogeneous surface of the EM2 strain, which was consistent with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R2 = 0.98)
An analytical profile index (API) test, which is widely used to identify the biochemical properties of a microorganism, was conducted, and this bacterium was scored positive for enzyme activity, glucose fermentation, indole production, and nitrate reduction
Summary
Due to the increasing concern about the public health and environmental problems caused byPb(II) contamination, developing highly efficient and stable treatment methods is necessary. Due to the increasing concern about the public health and environmental problems caused by. Pb(II) is one of the most widely used nonferrous metals that is necessary for manufacturing daily necessities, it has profound negative effects on living organisms [1]. Many toxicological studies have reported abnormal symptoms and diseases caused by the accumulation of Pb(II) in human tissues. Pb(II) can enter the human body through ingestion, inhalation, and adsorption, which can cause other severe effects, such as permanent damage to cognition and the reproductive system, and neurodegenerative diseases [2,3]. The Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have both designated Pb(II) as an extremely hazardous substance, and have withdrawn its provisional value
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