Premium
Biosorption of Trivalent Chromium from Wastewater: An Approach towards Green Chemistry
Author(s) -
Kanagaraj James,
Senthilvelan Thamizharasan,
Panda Ramesh C.,
Aravindhan Rathinam,
Mandal Asit B.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
chemical engineering and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.403
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1521-4125
pISSN - 0930-7516
DOI - 10.1002/ceat.201200716
Subject(s) - biosorption , chromium , bacillus pumilus , chemistry , wastewater , adsorption , biochemical oxygen demand , chemical oxygen demand , environmental chemistry , langmuir adsorption model , pollution , biomass (ecology) , pulp and paper industry , environmental pollution , nuclear chemistry , environmental engineering , environmental science , ecology , organic chemistry , sorption , bacteria , environmental protection , biology , engineering , genetics
Abstract Chromium is one of the metals used in industry that create environmental toxicity and pollution problems. In the present study, chromium in wastewater was removed by a biosorption method using a bacterial culture of Bacillus pumilus. A mathematical model representing the biosorption kinetics was formulated, supporting the Langmuir isotherm for the adsorption of chromium. Fourier transform infrared and scanning electron microscopy studies were used to characterize the adsorption of chromium by the bacterial biomass. The analysis of pollution parameters (chemical oxygen demand, total organic content, total dissolved solid, total suspended solid) suggest a significant reduction of the pollution load. The results show that the method developed here is very effective for the removal of chromium from an aqueous environment.