Development and evaluation of a new multi-metal binding biosorbent.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Materials Science
• Chemistry

Background:

• Industrial activities release heavy metals into aquatic environments, posing significant risks.
• Lignocellulosic agro-industrial wastes are abundant and underutilized resources for developing sustainable materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel multi-metal binding biosorbent (MMBB) from agricultural wastes for heavy metal removal.
• To compare the efficacy of different MMBB combinations in eliminating lead, cadmium, copper, and zinc.

Main Methods:

• Four MMBBs were synthesized using combinations of tea waste, corncob, sugarcane bagasse, sawdust, apple peel, and grape stalk.
• Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to characterize the functional groups of the best-performing biosorbent (MMBB2).
• Batch experiments were conducted to determine the biosorption capacities for Cd(II), Cu(II), Pb(II), and Zn(II).

Main Results:

• MMBB2, composed of tea waste, corncob, and sawdust, demonstrated superior performance among the tested biosorbents.
• MMBB2 achieved maximum biosorption capacities of 41.48 mg/g for Cd(II), 39.48 mg/g for Cu(II), 94.00 mg/g for Pb(II), and 27.23 mg/g for Zn(II).
• The MMBB2 exhibited excellent reusability, maintaining high biosorptive capacity after five regeneration cycles using different eluents.

Conclusions:

• The developed MMBB, particularly MMBB2, is a highly effective and sustainable biosorbent for removing multiple heavy metals from aqueous solutions.
• The abundance of functional groups in MMBB2 contributes to its high multi-metal binding efficiency.
• The biosorbent's regenerability and reusability highlight its potential for practical application in wastewater treatment and metal recovery.