Effective removal of zinc ions from aqueous solutions using crab carapace biosorbent.
The carapace of the crab (Cancer pagurus), a waste material disposed of by the seafood industry, has recently been shown to have potential as a biosorbent for the removal of metals from aqueous media. Crab carapace in the particle size ranges 0.25-0.8mm and 0.8-1.5mm were used to investigate the effects of agitation speed, contact time, metal concentration and initial pH on the removal of Zn(2+). In sequential-batch process Zn(2+) uptakes of 105.6 and 67.6 mg/g were recorded for 0.25-0.8 mm and 0.8-1.5 mm particles, respectively, while values of 141.3 and 76.9 mg/g were recorded in fixed-bed column studies. Binary-metal studies showed that the presence of Cu(2+) or Pb(2+) significantly suppressed Zn(2+) uptake. This study confirms that crab carapace may be considered a viable and cost-effective alternative to commercial activated carbon or ion-exchange resins for the removal of metals from aqueous media.
Lu
Shuguang
S
College of Resource & Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science & Technology, No. 130, Meilong Rd., Xuhui District, Shanghai 200237, PR China. lvshuguang@ecust.edu.cn
Gibb
Stuart W
SW
Cochrane
Emma
E
D000327:Adsorption; D000818:Animals; D003386:Brachyura; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry; D007854:Lead / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods; D015032:Zinc / Q000737:chemistry*
D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D007854:Lead; D003300:Copper; D015032:Zinc