Comparative studies on Pb(II) biosorption with three spongy microbe-based biosorbents: High performance, selectivity...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Materials Science
• Microbiology

Background:

• Industrial wastewater poses a significant environmental threat due to lead pollution.
• Developing efficient, selective, and separable adsorbents from microorganisms is crucial for effective lead remediation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize novel sponge-like biosorbents from diverse microorganisms for lead (Pb(II)) removal.
• To investigate the adsorption performance, selectivity, and removal mechanisms of these biosorbents for Pb(II).

Main Methods:

• One-step room temperature synthesis of biosorbents from Pseudomonas putida I3, Microbacterium sp. OLJ1, and Talaromyces amestolkiae Pb.
• Characterization using SEM, EDS, FTIR, 13C NMR, XRD, and XPS.
• Pb(II) adsorption experiments under varying pH conditions and in the presence of other heavy metals.

Main Results:

• Three distinct biosorbents with a 3D porous structure were synthesized.
• Maximum Pb(II) adsorption capacities reached 345.02 mg/g (X-PI3), 237.02 mg/g (X-OLJ1), and 199.02 mg/g (X-TPb).
• High selectivity for Pb(II) over other heavy metals was observed, with removal primarily via ion exchange, surface complexation, and microprecipitation.

Conclusions:

• The synthesized microbial biosorbents are highly effective for removing lead from industrial wastewater.
• The study demonstrates a promising and sustainable approach for heavy metal remediation using bio-based materials.