BIOSORPTIVE REMOVAL OF HEAVY METALS (Cd+2, Pb+2 AND Cu+2) FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS BY CASSIA ANGUSTIFOLIA BARK

摘要

The hazardous ill effects of heavy metals on the environment and public health is a matter of serious concern. Biosorption is emerging as a sustainable effective technology. The aim of this present study was to investigate the removal of heavy metals (Cd+2, Pb+2 and Cu+2) using Cassia angustifolia bark. The objective was to evaluate the biosorbent for its metal uptake and study its batch equilibrium. The batch mode was carried out at varying initial pH (5 to 9), temperature (300C to 450C), metal ion concentration (20mg to 140mg/L) and contact time (5 min to 240 min) and desorption studies from pH 1 to 11. The equilibrium data obtained fit well in Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The results of the investigations show the efficacy of Cassia angustifolia bark as a low cost promising biosorbent for removal of heavy metals from industrial wastewaters.