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Leveraging the Potential of Endomycorrhizal Spores and Montmorillonite for Hexavalent Chromium Adsorption from Aqueous Phase
Author(s) -
Sathvika Talasila,
Mudaliyar Manasi,
Rajesh Vidya,
Rajesh Nagarathnam
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
chemistryselect
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 34
ISSN - 2365-6549
DOI - 10.1002/slct.201702167
Subject(s) - hexavalent chromium , adsorption , biosorption , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , chemistry , langmuir adsorption model , aqueous solution , nuclear chemistry , chromium , montmorillonite , x ray photoelectron spectroscopy , desorption , materials science , chemical engineering , sorption , organic chemistry , engineering
Multidisciplinary approach involving biotechnology and chemistry opens up avenues to develop adsorbent materials that can be very useful to alleviate heavy metal toxicity. Towards this direction, we have explored the potential of endomycorrizhal fungal spores in conjunction with a clay mineral as a novel approach for chromium (VI) adsorption. The immobilization of AMF (Arbuscular Mycorrhizal fungus) spores in montmorillonite (in its Na + form) provides a good platform to adsorb hexavalent chromium. The adsorption was observed at pH 2.0‐3.0 involving the electrostatic interaction between the functional groups present in the fungi‐clay biosorbent surface and tetraoxohydrochromate (VI) anion. Diverse characterization techniques such as Fourier Transform‐Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X‐ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), confocal microscopy and X‐ray fluorescence (XRF) were used to observe the interaction of chromium with the biosorbent. Batch adsorption studies involving the experimental variables such as pH variation, kinetics, isotherms and thermodynamics were performed. Pseudo second order kinetics coupled with a Langmuir adsorption capacity of 11.185 mg g −1 was realized for this biosorption process. The biosorbent was stable and regenerated for three adsorption‐desorption cycles using sodium hydroxide.