Modeling of chromium (VI) biosorption by immobilized Spirulina platensis in packed column

Development of adsorbent rigid structure based on Spirulina sp./chitosan bioblends coatings for dye adsorption in fixed bed column

The glass particles were coated with Spirulina sp. LEB-18 and bioblends of Spirulina sp. LEB-18/chitosan by casting technique and, afterward, it was verified its potential as adsorbents for basic and acid dyes. Nine Spirulina sp. suspensions with different components were used to coat the glass particles, and in the best condition of coating were prepared the bioblends with chitosan. The coated glass particles with Spirulina sp. and its bioblends with chitosan were applied in adsorption of the allura red (acid) and methylene blue (basic) dyes in a batch operation evaluate the pH effect, and a fixed bed column operation, being evaluated to the removal percentage and adsorption capacity of the column. The glass particles coated with Spirulina sp. applied in batch adsorption showed the highest removal percentages for allura red dye (35 to 45%) at pH 4.0, and for methylene blue dye (35 to 80%) at pH 6.0 and 8.0. In fixed bed column using glass particles coated with bioblends were reached the amount dye of 54.2 mg of adsorbed allura red dye and 60.2 mg of the of adsorbed methylene blue dye, respectively. Moreover, it was found good dye adsorption capacities, around 89 mg g^-1, for both dyes, in acidic and basic pH values. Based on these results, these bioblends coated glass particles can be applied as an adsorbent for different types of dyes in adsorption column.

Continuous Systems Bioremediation of Wastewaters Loaded with Heavy Metals Using Microorganisms

Heavy metal pollution is a serious concern of the modern era due to its widespread negative effects on human health and to the environment. Conventional technologies applied for the uptake of this category of persistent pollutants are complex, often expensive, and inefficient at low metal concentrations. In the last few years, non-conventional alternatives have been studied in search of better solutions in terms of costs and sustainability. Microbial adsorbents are one of the biomass-based sorbents that have extensively demonstrated excellent heavy metals removal capacity even at low concentrations. However, most of the carried-out research regarding their application in wastewater treatment has been performed in discontinuous systems. The use of microorganisms for the uptake of metal ions in continuous systems could be an important step for the upscale of the remediation processes since it facilitates a faster remediation of higher quantities of wastewaters loaded with heavy metals, in comparison with batch systems removal. Thus, the current research aims to analyze the available studies focusing on the removal of metal ions from wastewaters using microorganisms, in continuous systems, with a focus on obtained performances, optimized experimental conditions, and the sustainability of the bioremoval process. The present work found that microbial-based remediation processes have demonstrated very good performances in continuous systems. Further sustainability analyses are required in order to apply the bioremediation technology in an optimized environmentally friendly way in large-scale facilities.

Modified Spruce Sawdust for Sorption of Hexavalent Chromium in Batch Systems and Fixed-Bed Columns

This study investigated the potential use of spruce sawdust that was pretreated with diethylene glycol and sulfuric acid for the removal of hexavalent chromium from wastewater. The sawdust pretreatment process was conducted at different temperatures and times. The adsorbent was characterized by quantitative saccharification, scanning electron microscopy, and Brunauer-Emmet-Teller surface area analysis. Adsorption capacity was studied for both batch and column processes. The experimental adsorption isotherms were simulated using seven isotherm models, including Freundlich and Langmuir models. By using the Langmuir isotherm model, the maximal Cr(VI) adsorption capacity of organosolv-pretreated spruce sawdust (qm) was 318.3 mg g-1. Furthermore, the kinetic data were fitted to Lagergren, pseudo-second-order, and intraparticle diffusion models, revealing that the adsorption of Cr(VI) onto spruce sawdust pretreated with diethylene glycol and sulfuric acid is best represented by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Three kinetic models, namely, the Bohart-Adams model, Thomas model, and modified dose-response (MDR) model, were used to fit the experimental data obtained from the column experiments and to resolve the characteristic parameters. The Thomas adsorption column capacity of the sawdust was increased from 2.44 to 31.1 mg g-1 upon pretreatment, thus, demonstrating that organosolv treatment enhances the adsorption capability of the material.

Novel hollow beads of carboxymethyl cellulose/ZSM-5/ZIF-8 for dye removal from aqueous solution in batch and continuous fixed bed systems

Zeolitic imidazolate frameworks are a class of metal-organic frameworks that are topologically isomorphic with zeolites. In this study, bionanocomposites of carboxymethyl cellulose-based ZSM-5/zeolitic imidazolate framework (CMC/ZSM-5/ZIF-8) hollow beads with different compositions were synthesized and employed as an adsorbent for methylene blue removal from aqueous solution in batch and continuous fixed bed systems. FESEM, FTIR, XRD, and BET measurements have been employed for characterizing the synthetic bionanocomposites. The effect of time and concentration on adsorption processes, regeneration, and reuse investigations were performed. The equilibrium batch adsorption capacities for CMC, CMC/ZIF-8, CMC/ZSM-5, and CMC/ZSM-5/ZIF-8 adsorbents were 12.01, 13.06, 11.53, and 10.49 mg/g, respectively. The batch adsorption was investigated using pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, intra-particle diffusion, and Elovich kinetic models and the results showed that all four adsorbents are consistent with all models but the pseudo-first-order model showed more consistency. The equilibrium continuous adsorption capacities for CMC, CMC/ZIF-8, CMC/ZSM-5, and CMC/ZSM-5/ZIF-8 adsorbents were 10.56, 11.87, 9.29, and 8.15 mg/g, respectively. The continuous adsorption was investigated by Thomas, Adam-Bohart, Yoon-Nelson, Wolborska, and Modified Dose Response kinetic models and the results showed that the adsorbents showed more consistency with models of Thomas, Yoon-Nelson, and Modified Dose Response. Besides, the generation process was successfully assessed in five steps.

Hexavalent chromium removal and total chromium biosorption from aqueous solution by Quercus crassipes acorn shell in a continuous up-flow fixed-bed column: Influencing parameters, kinetics, and mechanism

Continuous fixed-bed column studies were carried out, utilizing acorn shell from Quercus crassipes Humb. & Bonpl. (QCS), in order to remove total chromium and Cr(VI) from aqueous solution. Effects of various fixed-bed column parameters such as influent solution pH, influent flow rate, QCS bed height, and influent Cr(VI) concentration were investigated. Results from the fixed-bed column experiments demonstrate that total chromium biosorption and Cr(VI) removal by QCS depend strongly on the pH of influent solution. The highest capacities for Cr(VI) removal and total chromium biosorption are about 181.56 and 110.35 mg g-1 and are achieved at influent solution pH of 1.0 and 2.0, respectively. Besides this, total chromium biosorption capacities increased from 104.25 to 116.14 mg g-1, 109.07 to 117.44 mg g-1, and 85.02 to 129.87 mg g-1, as bed height, inlet flow rate, and influent Cr(VI) concentration increased from 1.7 to 6.5 cm, 0.25 to 1 mL min-1, and 50 to 400 mg L-1, respectively. The dose-response model defines the entire breakthrough curve for total chromium biosorption onto QCS, under all experimental conditions. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and biosorption kinetic studies revealed that QCS is able to remove toxic Cr(VI) from acidic liquid solution by means of a complex mechanism that involves the binding of Cr(VI) oxyanions to positively charged groups present at the QCS surface, after which the Cr(VI) species are reduced to Cr(III) by adjacent electron donor groups, and the generated Cr(III) ions then become partially bound to the QCS biomass and partially released into the liquid phase. Results show that QCS can be employed as an easily accessible, abundant, eco-friendly, and inexpensive biosorbent for the removal of total chromium and Cr(VI) from Cr(VI) solutions, in continuous operation.

Enhanced tetracycline removal by in-situ NiFe nanoparticles coated sand in column reactor

The occurrence of various antibiotics in natural waters poses an emerging environmental concern. Tetracycline (TC) is a frequently used antibiotic in human therapy, veterinary industry, and agricultural sectors. In the current study, TC removal from aqueous solutions was studied using binary Nickel/nano zero valent iron particles (NiFe nano particles) and in-situ NiFe nanoparticles coated sand (IS-NiFe). Removal of TC using bimetallic NiFe particles was optimized with help of response surface methodology (RSM). Using the optimized parameters (concentration of TC: 20 mg/L; NiFe dose: 120 mg/L; time of interaction: 90 min), 99.43 ± 0.98% removal of TC was noted. Further, IS-NiFe was packed in the column reactors and effects of different parameters like flow rate (1-3 mL/min), bed height (3-10 cm) and inlet TC concentration (20-60 mg/L) on breakthrough characteristics were examined. Under the optimized conditions the removal capacity in the column reactor was 1198 ± 40.2 mg/g using IS-NiFe. The column kinetic data were successfully fitted with Adams- Bohart and Thomas models. TC removal efficiency of IS-NiFe in column reactors was tested with TC (20 mg/L) spiked lake water, ground water, and tap water and the removal capacity was noted to be 698.55 ± 11.21, 764.17 ± 6.78, and 801.7 ± 13.26 mg/g respectively.

Effect of pH on hexavalent and total chromium removal from aqueous solutions by avocado shell using batch and continuous systems

Solution pH appears to be the most important regulator of the biosorptive removal of chromium ions from aqueous solutions. This work presents a kinetic study of the effects of solution pH on Cr(VI) and total chromium removal from aqueous solution by Hass avocado shell (HAS) in batch and continuous packed bed column systems. Different Cr(VI) and total chromium removal performances of HAS were obtained in pH-shift batch, pH-controlled batch, and continuous systems. These results emphasize the great importance of determining the most appropriate pH for Cr(VI) and total chromium removal, considering the operational mode of the proposed large-scale treatment system. Total chromium biosorption batch kinetics was well described by the Elovich model, whereas in the continuous system, the fitness of the kinetic models to the experimental data was pH dependent. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and kinetic studies clearly indicated that the reaction mechanism of Cr(VI) with HAS was the reductive biotransformation of Cr(VI) to Cr(III), which was partially released to the aqueous solution and partially biosorbed onto HAS.

Potential of higher plants, algae, and cyanobacteria for remediation of radioactively contaminated waters

The potential of photosynthetic organisms to remediate radioactively contaminated water was evaluated for scenarios related to nuclear installations and included the following radionuclides: ¹³⁷Cs, ¹³⁴Cs, ¹³⁶Cs, ⁹⁰Sr, ¹³¹I, ²³⁹Pu, ²⁴¹Am, ¹³²Te/¹³²I, ⁵⁸Co, ⁶⁰Co, ⁵¹Cr, ^110mAg, ⁵⁴Mn, ¹²⁴Sb, ⁵⁹Fe, ⁶⁵Zn, ⁹⁵Zr, and ⁹⁵Nb. An extensive literature review was undertaken leading to the creation of a database including more than 20,000 entries from over 100 references in which terrestrial and aquatic plants, macro- and microalgae, cyanobacteria and biosorbents derived from these organisms were used to clean water from these specific radionuclides or their stable isotopes. In a first phase, the remediation potential of the organisms and biosorbents was evaluated for the individual elements based on parameters such as plant uptake, removal percentage, and bioconcentration factor, and for two radionuclide mixtures based on the ability of the organisms/biosorbents to work under mixture conditions. As the experimental and environmental conditions will influence the performance of the organisms and biosorbents, a literature-based evaluation of the most influencing or restricting parameters was made and water pH, competing ions, and the chemical modification of biosorbents showed to be of major importance. Finally, the most promising organisms and biosorbents were identified using a specifically developed selection procedure taking into account their performance and robustness. Ranking was done based on clear criteria with a distinct weight and scoring scheme. As such, 20 organisms/biosorbents were identified that showed high potential to clean waters contaminated with (mixtures of) radionuclides related to nuclear installations and which can be used for further experimental investigations.

Packed-bed column biosorption of chromium(VI) and nickel(II) onto Fenton modified Hydrilla verticillata dried biomass

The present study represents the first attempt to investigate the biosorption potential of Fenton modified Hydrilla verticillata dried biomass (FMB) in removing chromium(VI) and nickel(II) ions from wastewater using up-flow packed-bed column reactor. Effects of different packed-bed column parameters such as bed height, flow rate, influent metal ion concentration and particle size were examined. The outcome of the column experiments illustrated that highest bed height (25cm); lowest flow rate (10mLmin(-1)), lowest influent metal concentration (5mgL(-1)) and smallest particle size range (0.25-0.50mm) are favourable for biosorption. The maximum biosorption capacity of FMB for chromium(VI) and nickel(II) removal were estimated to be 89.32 and 87.18mgg(-1) respectively. The breakthrough curves were analyzed using Bed Depth Service Time (BDST) and Thomas models. The experimental results obtained agree to both the models. Column regeneration experiments were also carried out using 0.1M HNO3. Results revealed good reusability of FMB during ten cycles of sorption and desorption. Performance of FMB-packed column in treating secondary effluent was also tested under identical experimental conditions. Results demonstrated significant reduction in chromium(VI) and nickel(II) ions concentration after the biosorption process.

Reduction of Cr(VI) into Cr(III) by Spirulina dead biomass in aqueous solution: kinetic studies

Microalga species are potential scavengers of heavy metals. The active functional groups of a number of biomaterials are capable to detoxify Cr(VI) to Cr(III). A 2nd order kinetic model was developed in terms of concentration of protonated acidic groups of Spirulina sp. biomass for the reduction of Cr(VI) into Cr(III). Cr(VI) reduction reaction grounded on the concentration of functional groups was validated over a broad range of pH, temperature and anionic strength. Lower pH favoured Cr(VI) reduction reaction and the experimental results well fitted to the kinetic model. The overall rate constant, kt, decreased logarithmically from 22.7 to 2.8 mM⁻¹ s⁻¹ with rise of pH from 0.5 to 6.0. Whereas, k(t) increased nearly by 23% with elevation temperature from 25 to 45 °C. Higher concentration (>0.235 mM) of background anions (Cl⁻, SO₄²⁻ and NO₃⁻) was resulted in decreases in k(t) values. The rate constant expression developed can be employed to quantify Cr(VI) reduction into Cr(III) using Spirulina biomass.

Batch and continuous flow studies of adsorptive removal of Cr(VI) by adapted bacterial consortia immobilized in alginate beads

The adsorptive removal of Cr(VI) by alginate beads containing Cr(VI)-adapted Acinetobacter junii, Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis in batch and continuous packed bed column reactors was investigated. Under optimized conditions (pH 3.0; contact time, 180 min; 30 °C; initial Cr(VI) concentration of 100 mg/L), 65.86 mg/g adsorption capacity was recorded in the batch study. When an adsorbent dosage of 1g/L, a flow rate of 5 mL/min, a bed height of 20 cm, an initial Cr(VI) concentration of 300 mg/L was employed, a capacity of 657 mg/g was noted for the continuous column assay. The batch sorption data followed the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo second order kinetics. Five sorption/desorption cycles yielded 100%, 99.63%, 95.31%, 80.7% and 74.22% regeneration, respectively. Cr(VI) adsorption studies using spiked ground water, freshwater and domestic wastewater in a packed bed reactor demonstrated Cr(VI) removals of 64.8%, 55.08%, 56.86% respectively. Cr(VI) sorption on immobilized bacteria was confirmed with Fourier-transform infrared and Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy.

Biosorption of food dyes onto Spirulina platensis nanoparticles: equilibrium isotherm and thermodynamic analysis

The biosorption of food dyes FD&C red no. 40 and acid blue 9 onto Spirulina platensis nanoparticles was studied at different conditions of pH and temperature. Four isotherm models were used to evaluate the biosorption equilibrium and the thermodynamic parameters were estimated. Infra red analysis (FT-IR) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) were used to verify the biosorption behavior. The maximum biosorption capacities of FD&C red no. 40 and acid blue 9 were found at pH 4 and 298 K, and the values were 468.7 mg g(-1) and 1619.4 mg g(-1), respectively. The Sips model was more adequate to fit the equilibrium experimental data (R2>0.99 and ARE<5%). Thermodynamic study showed that the biosorption was exothermic, spontaneous and favorable. FT-IR and EDS analysis suggested that at pH 4 and 298 K, the biosorption of both dyes onto nanoparticles occurred by chemisorption.

Removal of hexavalent chromium by biosorption process in rotating packed bed

Removal of hexavalent chromium ions from an aqueous solution by crude tamarind (Tamarindus indica) fruit shell was examined in a rotating packed bed contactor by continuously recirculating a given volume of solution through the bed. Reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) within the biosorbent appeared to be the removal mechanism. Depletion rate of Cr(VI) from, and release of reduced Cr(III) ions into the aqueous phase, was influenced by mass transfer resistance besides pH and packing depth. A mathematical model considering the reduction reaction to be irreversible and incorporating intraparticle and external phase mass transfer resistances represented the experimental data adequately. The study indicated that the limitations of fixed bed contactor operating under terrestrial gravity in intensifying mass transfer rates for this system can be overcome with rotating packed bed due to liquid flow under centrifugal acceleration.

Immobilized microalgae for removing pollutants: review of practical aspects

This review analyzes the state-of-the-art of a specific niche in biological wastewater treatment that uses immobilized eukaryotic microalgae (and several prokaryotic photosynthetic cyanobacteria), with emphasis on removing nutrients with the support of microalgae growth-promoting bacteria. Removal of other pollutants by this technology, such as heavy metals and industrial pollutants, and technical aspects related to this specific subfield of wastewater treatment are also presented. We present a general perspective of the field with most known examples from common literature, emphasizing a practical point of view in this technologically oriented topic. The potential venues of future research in this field are outlined and a critical assessment of the failures, limitations, and future of immobilized microalgae for removal of pollutants is presented.