A homogeneous and low-cost biosorbent for Cd, Pb and Cu removal from aqueous effluents

Heavy metal pollution of aqueous effluents is a matter of widespread concern. The use of low-cost materials for the adsorption of heavy metals seems to be a suitable choice for waste water treatment. Polyporus tenuiculus, easily cultivated on lignocellulosic waste, was assayed for Cu, Pb and Cd removal from aqueous solutions. Pb was removed more efficiently. Kinetics studies suggested a pseudo-second-order reaction and equilibrium was reached in similar to 30 min in all cases. The metal-sorption data were analysed according to several two-parameter isotherms. Data better fitted the Langmuir model for the three metals. A great dependence of metal adsorption with pH was observed. Characterisation of both the biomass and the complex metal-biomass was performed by FT-IR and SEM-EDX. Results suggest an ion exchange mechanism.