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Lead removal efficiency using biosorbents as alternative materials for permeable reactive barriers
Paula Cecilia Soto-Rios1, Kazunori Nakano2, Megumu Fujibayashi1
1Ecological Engineering Laboratory, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, 980-8579, Japan
Summary
Brown seaweed and reed show promise as biosorbents for removing lead in permeable reactive barriers. Their adsorption efficiency varied between batch and column systems, influenced by temperature and adsorption mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Materials Science
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Heavy metal contamination poses significant environmental risks.
- Biosorbents offer sustainable alternatives for pollutant removal.
- Permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) are effective in groundwater remediation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of brown seaweed (Undaria pinnatifida) and reed (Phragmites australis) as biosorbents for lead removal.
- To assess their suitability for application in permeable reactive barriers.
- To understand the adsorption mechanisms and influencing factors.
Main Methods:
- Batch and column experiments were conducted to determine lead removal efficiencies.
- Langmuir isotherm modeling was used to analyze adsorption characteristics.
- The influence of temperature on adsorption affinity and capacity was investigated.
Main Results:
- Both Undaria pinnatifida and Phragmites australis exhibited high lead removal efficiencies, fitting the Langmuir isotherm model.
- Temperature had a greater impact on adsorption affinity than adsorption capacity.
- Undaria pinnatifida showed higher efficiency in batch tests, but both materials showed similar performance decline in column tests.
Conclusions:
- Undaria pinnatifida and Phragmites australis are viable biosorbents for lead removal in PRBs.
- Adsorption mechanisms, including chemical and physical processes, differ between batch and column systems.
- Further research can optimize biosorbent application for effective heavy metal remediation.
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