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Biosorption of lanthanum and cerium from aqueous solutions by grapefruit peel: equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamic studies

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Abstract

The biosorption characteristics of lanthanum and cerium ions from aqueous solution by grapefruit peel have been investigated as a function of pH, biosorbent dosage, contact time, and temperature. The pH was found to be significantly affecting the biosorption performance: pH 5.0 was found to be an optimum pH for favorable biosorption of lanthanum and cerium ions. The experimental isotherm data were analyzed using Langmuir and Freundlich equations. The Langmuir model fits the equilibrium data better than the Freundlich model. According to the Langmuir equation, the maximum uptake for La(III) and Ce(III) ions were 171.20 and 159.30 mg/g, respectively. Pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models were used to represent the kinetics of the process. The results show that the pseudo-second-order model is the one that best describes the kinetics of the biosorption of both metal ions. The calculated thermodynamic parameters (ΔG°, ΔH°, and ΔS°) show that the biosorption process is feasible, spontaneous, and endothermic at 20–50 °C. FTIR analysis demonstrates that carboxyl and hydroxyl groups are involved in the biosorption of the metal ions. This study shows that grapefruit peel has the potential of application as an efficient biosorbent for the removal of lanthanide elements from aqueous solutions.

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Abbreviations

C e :

Metal concentration at equilibrium (mg/L)

C f :

Final metal ion concentration (mg/L)

C o :

Initial metal concentration (mg/L)

ΔG°:

Gibbs free energy change (J/mol)

ΔH°:

Enthalpy change (J/mol)

k 1 :

Pseudo-first-order rate constant of the sorption (1/min)

k 2 :

Pseudo-second-order rate constant of the sorption [g/(mg min−1)]

K D :

Distribution coefficient (mL/g)

K L :

Langmuir model constant (L/mg)

K F :

Freundlich model constant

M :

Mass of the biosorbent (g)

n :

Freundlich sorption intensity

q e :

Amount of adsorbed metal per weight of biosorbent at equilibrium (mg/g)

q m :

Maximum metal sorption capacity from Langmuir model (mg/g)

q t :

Amount of adsorbed metal per weight of biosorbent at time t (mg/g)

R :

Universal gas constant (8.314 J/mol K)

R L :

Separation factor (−)

ΔS°:

Entropy change (J/mol K)

t :

Time (min)

T :

Absolute temperature (K)

V :

Volume of metal solution (L)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nuclear Fuel Cycle Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, P.O. Box 11365-8486, Tehran, Iran

    Meisam Torab-Mostaedi & Mehdi Asadollahzadeh

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 16765-163, Tehran, Iran

    Mehdi Asadollahzadeh & Alireza Hemmati

  3. Young Researchers Club, North Tehran branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

    Amir Khosravi

Authors
  1. Meisam Torab-Mostaedi
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  2. Mehdi Asadollahzadeh
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  3. Alireza Hemmati
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  4. Amir Khosravi
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Correspondence to Meisam Torab-Mostaedi.

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Torab-Mostaedi, M., Asadollahzadeh, M., Hemmati, A. et al. Biosorption of lanthanum and cerium from aqueous solutions by grapefruit peel: equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamic studies. Res Chem Intermed 41, 559–573 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11164-013-1210-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11164-013-1210-4

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