Adsorption of copper(II), cadmium(II), nickel(II) and lead(II) from aqueous solution using biosorbents

Three types of agricultural waste, citrus maxima peel (CM), passion fruit shell (PF) and sugarcane bagasse (SB), were used to produce biosorbents for removing the heavy metal ions of copper(II), cadmium(II), nickel(II) and lead(II) from a pH 5.0 solution. The properties of biosorbents were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), zeta potential analyzer, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, elemental analyzer and tests of cation exchange capacity (CEC). The result indicated that the selected biosorbents possess rich carboxyl (COOH) and hydroxyl (OH) groups to produce a complexation with the heavy metals. Moreover, the negative surface charge of the biosorbent might adsorb the metal ions through the ion exchange. All of the adsorption isotherms indicated that L-type characters represented complexation and ion exchanges that were the adsorption mechanisms of biosorbents toward heavy metals. Biosorbents with higher oxygen content might generate high adsorption capacities. The adsorption capacities of CM and PF, estimated from the fitting to the Langmuir isotherm, are similar to those reported by others regarding biosorbents.