A PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING BIOSORBENT FROM MICROBIAL WASTE BIOMASS, A BIOSORBENT MANUFACTURED THEREBY AND A PROCESS FOR THE REMOVAL OF CHROMIUM (VI) FROM INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENTS USING THE SAID BIOSORBENT

摘要

In this process biosorbent is manufactured from microbial waste biomass, originating as waste by-product from pharmaceutical industries, such as microbial waste biomass comprising of fungus Penicillium sp./ Pischia sp./ Rhizopus sp./ Aspergillus sp., used in fermentative production of antibiotics. The microbial waste biomass is dried at 60 to 90°C for 14 to 24 hours, crushed and sieved to obtain particle size of 75 to 600 micron. The particles are subjected to protonation by treating with mineral acid and dried for final use as an adsorbent. The biosorbent so manufactured is used for the removal of chromium (VI) from industrial effluents. Thus by using waste biomass of microbial origin from pharmaceutical industry, a biosorbent is obtained which provides a cost effective and environment friendly method of removal of hexavalent chromium from industrial effluents.