Adsorption of Pb(II) using novel Pleurotus sajor-caju and sunflower hybrid biosorbent

The present study was focused on the technical feasibility of using immobilized hybrid biomass of Pleurotus sajor-caju and sunflower for Pb(II) removal from the contaminated water. After preliminary evaluation, it was found that immobilized hybrid biomass of Pleurotus sajor-caju and sunflower effectively removed Pb(II) from wastewater at pH 4.5. The effect of various experimental parameters on Pb(II) uptake by hybrid biosorbent was systematically evaluated in a batch biosorption system. The optimized biosorbent dose, contact time, initial metal concentration and temperature were 0.05 g/100 cm, 180 min, 800 mg/dm and 60 °C. Dynamics of the adsorption process were studied, and the values of rate constants of pseudo first order and pseudo second order kinetic models were calculated. Equilibrium isotherms for the adsorption of Pb(II) were analyzed by the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. The sorption of Pb(II) followed the pseudo second order kinetic model. The Langmuir sorption isotherm fitted well to Pb(II) concentration data. The results revealed that this new hybrid biosorbent system was a promising candidate for eliminating Pb(II) from contaminated aquatic environment.