Effect of different conditions on Cu(II) and Cr(VI) biosorption by dried waste tea fungal biomass.docVIP

APTEFF, 38, 1-190 (2007) DOI:10.2298/APT0738149R UDC: 628.35:546.56+546.76 BIBLID: 1450-7188 (2007) 38, 149-156 Original scientific paper EFFECT OF DIFFERENT CONDITIONS ON Cu(II) AND Cr(VI) BIOSORPTION BY DRIED WASTE TEA FUNGAL BIOMASS Radojka N. Razmovski and Marina B. ?4iban  Some industrial wastewaters contain high quantities of non-toxic salts besides heavy metal ions. The presence of salt ions leads to a high ionic strength of water, which may significantly affect the performance of the biosorption process, so that the effect of salts on the biosorption of heavy metal ions should be investigated. In this study the effect of different salts concentrations (0.1; 0.5 and 1 mol L (0.15; 0.25 and 0.5 g L ) dried at different temperatures: 20°C, 70°C, 80°C, 105°C and 125°C on Cu(II) and Cr(VI) biosorption was studied in a batch system. Biosorption at an ionic strength of 0.1 mol L of all salts investigated had a decreasing effect on Cu(II) and Cr(VI) removal. It was observed that (NH ) SO at the concentrations of 0.5 mol L -1 ) and dosage of tea fungal biomass -1 -1 -1 and 4 2 4 -1 was more efficient than other salts for metal ions removal. In case of Cr(VI) the 1 mol L most efficient removal was obtained for the water with K SO at a concentration of 0.5 2 4 mol L . The lowest biosorbent dosage (0.15 g L tea fungal biomass dried at 20°C in the -1 -1 case of Cu(II) biosorption and at 80°C in the case of Cr(VI) biosorption) resulted in the highest metal uptake of 38 mg g in case of Cu(II) and 33 mg g in case of Cr(VI). -1 -1 KEYWORDS: Biosorption, waste tea fungal biomass, copper(II), chromium(VI) INTRODUCTION Environmental pollution caused by the increased industrial activities is one of the most significant problems. Copper ions at excessive concentration are toxic to humans and other