Sorption of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) to High and Low Pressure Synthetic Nano-Magnetite (Fe3O4)Particles

The binding of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) to synthetic nano-magnetie particles synthesized under open vessel conditions and a microwave assisted hydrothermal synthesis techniques was investigated. Batch studies showed that the binding of both the Cr(III) and Cr(VI) bound to the nano-materials in a pH dependent manner. The Cr(III) maximized at binding at pH 4 and 100% binding. Similarly, the Cr(VI) ions showed a maximum binding of 100% at pH 4. The data from the time dependency studies showed for the most part the majority of the binding occurred within the first 5 minutes of contact with the nanomaterial and remained constant thereafter. In addition, the effects of the possible interferences were investigated which showed some effects on the binding of both Cr(III) and Cr(VI). However, the interferences never completely eliminated the chromium binding. Isotherm studies conducted at room temperature showed the microwave synthesized nanomaterials had a binding capacity of 1208 ± 43.9 mg/g and 555 ± 10.5 mg/g for Cr(VI) and Cr(III), respectively. However, the microwave assisted synthesized nanomaterials had capacities of 1705 ± 14.5 and 555± 10.5 mg/g for Cr(VI) and Cr(III), respectively. XANES studies showed the Cr(VI) was reduced to Cr(III), and the Cr(III) remained as Cr(III). In addition, the XANES studies indicated that the chromium remained coordinated in an octahedral arrangement of oxygen atoms

Adsorption of Toxic Metal Ions From Solution by Inactivated Cells of Larrea Tridentata Creosote Bush

Larrea tridentata (creosote bush) is a plant that grows abundantly in the desert environment. This desert plant has been found naturally growing in heavy-metal contaminated soils. Previous experiments showed that the inactivated biomass of creosote bush was able to adsorb Cu(II) ions from aqueous solutions. The copper-binding capacity of the bush biomass that grows in heavy-metal uncontaminated soils was higher than the biomass that grows in heavy-metal contaminated soils. Experiments were performed to determine the ability of creosote bush biomass (grown in heavy metal uncontaminated soils) to adsorb Pb(II), Cd(II), Zn(II), Cr(III), Cr(VI), and Ni(II) ions from aqueous solutions. Batch pH profile experiments for these metal ions showed that the metal ion binding was different for every metal tested but increased as the pH was raised from 2.0 to 6.0. The metal ion uptake by the roots, stems, and leaves was quite fast. Binding capacity experiments showed a more significant binding capacity for lead(II) and chromium(III) ions and in general, the leaves bound more metal ions than the stems and roots. A great portion of the metal ions adsorbed by the creosote’s roots, stems, and leaves was desorbed by treatment with 0.1 M HCl (up to 99% in some cases). Biomass of creosote bush may prove to be useful to remove and recover metal ions from contaminated waters

Ability of Immobilized Cyanobacteria to Remove Metal Ions From Solution and Demonstration of the Presence of Metallothionein Genes in Various Strains

Synechococcus sp. PCC 7942 has the ability to grow in mass quantity under ideal conditions; such an ability provides usable biomass at a minimal effort. Using lyophilized biomass grown under normal conditions, Synechococcus was tested for its potential to bind metal ions from solution. Batch experiments have determined the optimum binding pH, time dependency, and metal binding capacities for copper(II), lead(II), nickel(II), cadmium(II), chromium(III), and chromium(VI), along with desorption of the metal bound. The biomass studied showed an affinity for five of the metal ions, with an optimum binding at pH 5. Time dependency studies showed that this cyanobacterium had rapid binding, while capacity experiments showed this cyanobacterial strain to bind 11.3 mg of copper(II) per gram of biomass, 30.4mg of lead(II) per gram of biomass, 3.2 mg of nickel(II) per gram of biomass, 7.2 mg of cadmium (II) per gram of biomass, and 5.4 mg of chromium (III) per gram of biomass. More than 98% of copper(II), lead(II), and nickel(II) metal ions were recovered, while over 50 % of cadmium(II) and chromium(III) were recovered when treated with 0.1M HCl. The biomass was immobilized in a silica polymer and tested for its binding ability under flow conditions. Using 0.1mM concentrations of the previously indicated metals, individual experimental results showed an average of 143 mg/L copper(II), 1456 mg/L lead(II), 142 mg/L nickel(II), and 529 mg/L cadmium(II) bound by the immobilized biomass. Treatment with 0.2M HCl resulted in nearly 100% recovery for both copper(II) and lead(II) from the column, 79% recovery of cadmium(II), while recovery for nickel(II) was 42%. Experiments were conducted to determine if many cycles of metal binding- stripping by the immobilized biomass were possible. Further, attempts were made to demonstrate the presence of metallothioneins in various strains of cyanobacteria which may serve as defense mechanisms against metal ion toxicity. Such proteins may be used to develop engineered strains of cyanobacteria with increased metal ion binding ability. Synechococcus can eventually be used as a source for a novel approach in using biosystems to remediate contaminants from solution and making those contaminants available to industry through an environmentally friendly biofiltration system

Binding of Silver(I) Ions by Alfalfa Biomass (Medicago Sativa): Batch PH, Time, Temperature, and Ionic Strength Studies

In this study, the use of alfalfa biomass as a cost-effective and environmentally safe technique to recover Ag(I) ions from aqueous solutions is reported. This investigation consisted of batch pH profile, time, temperature, and ionic strength dependence studies. Results showed that alfalfa biomass presented the highest adsorption of Ag(I) ions in the pH range of 7 to 9 with a maximum adsorption capacity of 27.37 mg Ag•g-1 of dry biomass, evaluated with a solution of 32.4 ppm of Ag(I). Time and temperature studies demonstrated a stable adsorption of Ag(I) ions by the biomass during the first hour of exposure, with a small decrease in adsorption after this period. Temperature experiments showed that Ag(I) adsorption decreases significantly at 50 ºC as compared to 4ºC and 24 ºC. However, the differences between 4ºC and 24ºC are small. Ionic strength experiments showed that interfering ions (Na and Ca) reduce the adsorption capacity of the biomass. Results of this investigation showed that alfalfa biomass can be effectively used in the recovery process of silver ions from aqueous solutions

Gold Binding by Native and Chemically Modified Hops Biomasses

Heavy metals from mining, smelting operations and other industrial processing facilities pollute wastewaters worldwide. Extraction of metals from industrial effluents has been widely studied due to the economic advantages and the relative ease of technical implementation. Consequently, the search for new and improved methodologies for the recovery of gold has increased. In this particular research, the use of cone hops biomass (Humulus lupulus) was investigated as a new option for gold recovery. The results showed that the gold binding to native hops biomass was pH dependent from pH 2 to pH 6, with a maximum percentage binding at pH 3. Time dependency studies demonstrated that Au(III) binding to native and modified cone hops biomasses was found to be time independent at pH 2 while at pH 5, it was time dependent. Capacity experiments demonstrated that at pH 2, esterified hops biomass bound 33.4 mg Au/g of biomass, while native and hydrolyzed hops biomasses bound 28.2 and 12.0 mg Au/g of biomass, respectively. However, at pH 5 the binding capacities were 38.9, 37.8 and 11.4 mg of Au per gram of native, esterified and hydrolyzed hops biomasses, respectively

Bioaccumulation of cadmium, chromium and copper by Convolvulus arvensis L.: impact on plant growth and uptake of nutritional elements

The remediation of heavy metal-contaminated sites using plants presents a promising alternative to current methodologies. In this study, the potential accumulation of Convolvulus arvensis L. for Cd(II), Cr(VI), and Cu(II) was determined using an agar-based medium. The shoots of C. arvensis plants exposed to 20 mg\ua0l−1 of these heavy metals, demonstrated capability to accumulate more than 3800 mg of Cr, 1500 mg of Cd, and 560 mg of Cu per kg of dry tissue. The outcome of this study and the field data previously reported corroborate that C. arvensis is a suitable candidate for the phytoremediation of Cd(II), Cr(VI), and Cu(II) contaminated soils. Furthermore, the concentration of Cr determined in the dry leaf tissue (2100 mg\ua0kg−1) indicates that C. arvensis could be considered as a potential Cr-hyperaccumulator plant species

Differential effect of metals/metalloids on the growth and element uptake of mesquite plants obtained from plants grown at a copper mine tailing and commercial seeds

The selection of appropriate seeds is essential for the success of phytoremediation/restoration projects. In this research, the growth and elements uptake by the offspring of mesquite plants (Prosopis sp.) grown in a copper mine tailing (site seeds, SS) and plants derived from vendor seeds (VS) was investigated. Plants were grown in a modified Hoagland solution containing a mixture of Cu, Mo, Zn, As(III) and Cr(VI) at 0, 1, 5 and 10 mg L-1 each. After one week, plants were harvested and the concentration of elements was determined by using ICP-OES. At 1 mg L-1, plants originated from SS grew faster and longer than control plants (0 mg L-1); whereas plants grown from VS had opposite response. At 5 mg L-1, 50% of the plants grown from VS did not survive, while plants grown from SS had no toxicity effects on growth. Finally, plants grown from VS did not survive at 10 mg L-1 treatment, whilst 50% of the plants grown from SS survived. The ICP-OES data demonstrated that at 1 mg L-1 the concentration of all elements in SS plants was significantly higher compared to control plants and VS plants. While at 5 mg L-1, the shoots of SS plants had significantly more Cu, Mo, As, and Cr. The results suggest that SS could be a better source of plants intended to be used for phytoremediation of soil impacted with Cu, Mo, Zn, As and Cr. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved