Towards a Circular Economy: Analysis of the Use of Biowaste as Biosorbent for the Removal of Heavy Metals

Efficient removal of congo red and cytotoxicity evaluation of biosorbents prepared from chitosan-added watermelon pulp

The development of environmentally friendly adsorbents has become increasingly important for treating waste generated by the growing global industry. In this study, new biosorbents were synthesized from an all-natural chitosan and watermelon pulp for the treatment of congo red textile dye from water. Biosorbents were prepared by lyophilizing chitosan-added watermelon pulp (AC-WPC). The prepared biosorbents were characterized by BET, SEM, Zeta Potential and FT-IR analysews. Accordingly, the BET surface area of AC-WPC was 120.92 m2/g. SEM analysis showed that the structures were porous and the results were consistent with the BET analysis. FT-IR analysis confirmed the chemical structures. The isoelectric points of the biosorbents were determined by zeta potential analysis. The AC-WPC biosorbent demonstrated 86% cell viability with cytotoxicity testing. For this reason, it was determined that the AC-WPC biosorbents produced does not cause any serious damage to the cell. Following this, adsorption study of congo red textile dye in water was carried out with these biosorbents. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms were studied in adsorption experiments, and it was found that the Freundlich isotherms were compatible. Pseudo first and second kinetic models were also studied and found to be compatible with Pseudo Second Kinetic Model. The highest adsorption capacity was observed at 100 mg/l congo red concentration with 98.02% removal and 490.1 mg/g adsorption capacity using AC-WPC. It is thought that these results will potentially contribute to the literature on the removal of textile dyes or other pollutants using chitosan-added watermelon pulp.

Biosorption of pb(II) from aqueous solution by citrus reticulate: adsorption studies, and modeling

Removing toxic Pb(II) ions from aqueous solution by the peels of citrus reticulate (mandarin orange), a fruit industry waste, presents suitable scale-up possibilities. The Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) studies reflected that the mandarin orange peel powder had a porous surface area (32.46 m2g-1), average pore size and pore volume was 38.6 Å and 0.402 cm3g-1, respectively, favorable for binding Pb(II) ions. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed C-Br stretching, primary alcohol (C-O), phenolic O-H, and carbodimide N = C = N bands primarily helped to bind Pb(II) ions. The study evaluated and optimized the parametric influences of pH, adsorbate and biosorbent concentration, contact time and temperature on the removal efficiency of Pb(II) ions. A maximum of 97.08% Pb(II) was removed from 20 mg L-1 solution when 2.5 g L-1 adsorbent was present. The reaction obeyed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The intra-particle diffusion was involved in lead sorption. The Langmuir isotherm model resulted in an adsorption capacity of 23.04 mg g-1. 35.28% Pb(II) was removed in the 3rd adsorption-desorption cycle with 0.4 M HCl. The adsorption process was natural, impulsive and endothermic. The statistical investigation used Multiple Polynomial Regression (MPR) and Genetic Algorithm (GA). The analysis effectively forecasted the percentage removal at the optimized condition.

Effect of mixing oak leaf biomass with soil on cadmium toxicity and translocation in tomato genotypes

The environmental non-element cadmium (Cd) is toxic to all forms of life, and it also has a negative impact on plant development and growth. In order to ascertain the effects of cadmium on tomato growth and the function of oak leaf biomass in the reduction of toxicity and translocation of cadmium in different parts of tomato genotypes, two tolerant and two sensitive tomato genotypes were exposed to cadmium stress through the availability or unavailability of oak leaf biomass. The experiment involved two factors. The first factor was the various treatment levels, including soil without Cd treatment and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) oak leaf biomass pretreatment (COC-control), soil with Cd treatment and without NaOH oak leaf biomass pretreatment (CdC), and soil with Cd treatment and NaOH oak leaf biomass pretreatment (CdOBC). The second element consists of four tomato genotypes. Comparing to control conditions, all tomato genotypes spotted significant reductions in all morphological traits under Cd stress in the presence or absence of NaOH oak leaf pretreatment. Related to CdC conditions, root length, shoot length, root fresh weight per plant, shoot fresh weight per plant, root dry weight per plant, shoot dry weight per plant, and total fruit weight per plant were significantly improved by 4.25%, 9.75%, 23.24%, 10.10%, 28.10%, 9.08%, and 4.61%, respectively, under the availability of pretreatment of oak leaf biomass. The tolerant genotypes (Karazi and Sirin) exhibited the greatest increase in all traits evaluated, with the exception of root length, under the CdOBC condition compared to the CdC statement. Significant increases in leaf biochemical parameters were seen with the availability or absence of NaOH pretreatment of oak leaf biomass in the soil. The maximum values of proline content, soluble sugar content, antioxidant activity, and guaiacol peroxidase were stated in the presence of oak biomass under Cd conditions (CdOBC), with mean values of 1772.46 μg g -1, 687.18 μg g -1, 1025.74 μg g -1-, and 0.43 units min -1 g -1, respectively. The in vitro-tolerant genotypes exhibited the maximum values of all biochemical parameters. The concentration of cadmium in the studied tomato genotypes revealed that cadmium accumulated more in the roots than other parts. According to these outcomes, NaOH pretreatment of oak leaf biomass can be employed to diminish the hazard of cadmium absorption by edible parts.

Untreated Opuntia ficus indica for the Efficient Adsorption of Ni(II), Pb(II), Cu(II) and Cd(II) Ions from Water

The raw cladode of Opuntia ficus indica (OFI) was evaluated as a sustainable biosorbent for the removal of heavy metals (Ni, Pb, Cu, and Cd) from aqueous solutions. The functional groups of OFI were identified by employing DRIFT-FTIR and CP-MAS-NMR techniques before and after contact with the ions in an aqueous media, showing a rearrangement of the biomass structure due to the complexation between the metal and the functional groups. The adsorption process was studied in both single- and multi-component systems under batch conditions at different pHs (4.0, 5.0, and 6.0), different metal concentrations, and different biomass amounts. The results show that the raw OFI had a removal capacity at room temperature of over 80% for all metals studied after only 30 min of contact time, indicating a rapid adsorption process. Biosorption kinetics were successfully fitted by the pseudo-second-order equation, while Freundlich correctly modelled the biosorption data at equilibrium. The results of this work highlight the potential use of the untreated cladode of OFI as an economical and environmentally friendly biosorbent for the removal of heavy metals from the contaminated aqueous solution.

Biosorbent Efficacy of Groundnut Husk for the Elimination of Chromium from the Effluent of Mojo Tannery Industry, Ethiopia

The present study aimed to assess the effects of raw (RGNH), ethanol-extracted (EEGNH), and acid-treated (ATGNH) groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) husk for removal of chromium from tannery effluent from the Mojo tannery industry, Ethiopia. The effects of biosorbent dose, agitation speed, and contact time of heavy metal on biosorbent were measured. The percentage removal of chromium was examined by a flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (FAAS). Functional group characteristics of the biosorbents were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR). The results indicated that at low doses (2 g), acid-treated groundnut husk (ATGNH) exhibited the highest removal efficiency (89.93%), whereas at a high dose (4 g), the raw groundnut husk (RGNH) has a potential removal efficiency (91.03%). The least removal efficiency was displayed by ethanol-extracted groundnut husk (EEGNH) (65.43%) at a dose of 3 g. Relating to the contact time, the highest chromium removal (94.41%) was exhibited by ATGNH with a 1-hour contact time. However, as contact time increased from 2 to 4 hours, there was a general decrease in the efficiency of biosorption. The removal of chromium by RGNH and EEGNH increased as contact time increased from 1 to 3 hours. The highest chromium removal (90.02%) was observed with ATGNH at 160 rpm agitation speed.

Statistical Analysis and Optimization of the Brilliant Red HE-3B Dye Biosorption onto a Biosorbent Based on Residual Biomass

Using various techniques, natural polymers can be successfully used as a matrix to immobilize a residual microbial biomass in a form that is easy to handle, namely biosorbents, and which is capable of retaining chemical species from polluted aqueous media. The biosorption process of reactive Brilliant Red HE-3B dye on a new type of biosorbent, based on a residual microbial biomass of Saccharomyces pastorianus immobilized in sodium alginate, was studied using mathematical modeling of experimental data obtained under certain conditions. Different methods, such as computer-assisted statistical analysis, were applied, considering all independent and dependent variables involved in the reactive dye biosorption process. The optimal values achieved were compared, and the experimental data supported the possibility of using the immobilized residual biomass as a biosorbent for the studied reference dye. The results were sufficient to perform dye removals higher than 70-85% in an aqueous solution containing around 45-50 mg/L of reactive dye, and working with more than 20-22 g/L of prepared immobilized microbial biosorbent for more than 9.5-10 h. Furthermore, the proposed models agreed with the experimental data and permitted the prediction of the dye biosorption behavior in the experimental variation field of each independent variable.

Maize Stalk Obtained after Acid Treatment and Its Use for Simultaneous Removal of Cu2+, Pb2+, Ni2+, Cd2+, Cr3+ and Fe3

In this research, eco-friendly material represented by maize stalk (MS) obtained after acid treatment was employed for simultaneous removal of Cu2+, Pb2+, Ni2+, Cd2+, Cr3+ and Fe3+ (MX+) from simulated textile aqueous matrix and tannery wastewater produced by the leather industry. The acid treatment of MS was done with 4 M HCl. The influence of experimental parameters was evaluated in order to optimize the adsorption process for simulated textile matrix. The contact time 10-60 min and initial concentration of 0.5-1 mg/L MX+ influence were studied by batch method. Additionally, the adsorption data of MX+ onto MS was fitting by kinetic and isotherm models. The results obtained showed that the 60 min was necessary to reach adsorption equilibrium of the MS. The adsorption capacity of MS was 0.052 mg Cu2+/g of MS, 0.024 mg Pb2+/g of MS, 0.042 mg Ni2+/g of MS, 0.050 mg Cd2+/g of MS, 0.056 mg Fe3+/g of MS and 0.063 mg Cr3+/g of MS at pH = 4.2. The Langmuir model described the adsorption process very well. The MS showed huge selectivity for Cr3+ and Fe3+ in the presence of Cu2+, Pb2+, Ni2+ and Cd2+. The adsorption of MX+ from liquid phases were analyzed by spectrometric adsorption method (AAS). The solid phases of MS before and after adsorption by TG and SEM analysis were characterized. When MS was used for removal of MX+ from tannery wastewater, two major issues were investigated: First, the decrease of MX+ content from highly polluted and difficult to treat tannery wastewaters by improve its quality and in the second part, specific recovery of MX+ from MS mass increasing the economic efficiency of metals production based on green technology.

Polysaccharides Used in Biosorbents Preparation for Organic Dyes Retaining from Aqueous Media

Natural polymers can themselves be efficient as materials with biosorptive properties but can also be used to transform microbial biomass into an easy-to-handle form, respectively, into biosorbents, through immobilization. The article aims to study biosorbents based on residual microbial biomass (Saccharomyces pastorianus yeast, separated after the brewing process by centrifugation and dried at 80 °C) immobilized in sodium alginate. The biosorptive properties of this type of biosorbent (spherical particles 2 and 4 mm in diameter) were studied for removal of reactive dye Brilliant Red HE-3B (with concentration in range of 16.88-174.08 mg/L) from aqueous media. The paper aims at three aspects: (i) the physico-chemical characterization of the biosorbent (Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectra); (ii) the modeling of biosorption data in order to calculate the quantitative characteristic parameters using three equilibrium isotherms (Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin-Radushkevich-DR); and (iii) the evaluation of thermal effect and the possible mechanism of action. The results of the study showed that biosorption capacity evaluated by Langmuir (I) model is 222.22 mg/g (ϕ = 2 mm) and 151.51 mg/g (ϕ = 4 mm) at 30 °C, and the free energy of biosorption (E) is in the range of 8.45-13.608 KJ/mol (from the DR equation). The values of thermodynamic parameters suggested an exothermic process due the negative value of free Gibbs energy (ΔG0 = -9.031 kJ/mol till -3.776 kJ/mol) and enthalpy (about ΔH0 = -87.795 KJ/mol). The obtained results underline our finding that the immobilization in sodium alginate of the residual microbial biomass of Saccharomyces pastorianus led to an efficient biosorbent useful in static operating system in the case of effluents with moderate concentrations of organic dyes.

Potential Use of Constructed Wetland Systems for Rural Sanitation and Wastewater Reuse in Agriculture in the Moroccan Context

Located in a semi-arid to arid region, Morocco is confronting increasing water scarcity challenges. In the circular economy paradigm, the reuse of treated wastewater in agriculture is currently considered a possible solution to mitigate water shortage and pollution problems. In recent years, Morocco has made significative progress in urban wastewater treatment under the National Wastewater Program (PNA). However, rural sanitation has undergone significant delays. Therefore, an alternative technology for wastewater treatment and reuse in rural areas is investigated in this review, considering the region’s economic, social, and regulatory characteristics. Constructed wetlands (CWs) are a simple, sustainable, and cost-effective technology that has yet to be fully explored in Morocco. CWs, indeed, appear to be suitable for the treatment and reuse of wastewater in remote rural areas if they can produce effluent that meets the standards of agricultural irrigation. In this review, 29 studies covering 16 countries and different types of wastewater were collected and studied to assess the treatment efficiency of different types of CWs under different design and operational parameters, as well as their potential application in agricultural reuse. The results demonstrated that the removal efficiency of conventional contamination such as organic matter and suspended solids is generally high. CWs also demonstrated a remarkable capacity to remove heavy metals and emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals, care products, etc. The removal of microbial contamination, on the other hand, is challenging, and does not satisfy the standards all the time. However, it can be improved using hybrid constructed wetlands or by adding polishing treatment. In addition, several studies reported that CWs managed to produce effluent that met the requirements of wastewater reuse in agriculture of different countries or organisations including Morocco.

Hydrogels derived from galactoglucomannan hemicellulose with inorganic contaminant removal properties

The adsorption of Cu(ii), Cd(ii), and Pb(ii) ions onto hydrogels derived from modified galactoglucomannan (GGM) hemicellulose was studied. GGM hemicellulose was modified with methacrylate groups (GGM-MA) to incorporate vinyl groups into the polymeric structure, which reacted later with synthetic monomers such as 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid (AMPS). The results show that all the synthesized hydrogels were capable of adsorbing contaminating ions with high adsorption efficiency during short periods of time. Furthermore, an increase in the content of GGM-MA generated a hydrogel (H3) with a similar ion adsorption property to the other hydrogels but with a lesser degree of swelling. The H3 hydrogel had an adsorption capacity of 60.0 mg g⁻¹ Cd(ii), 78.9 mg g⁻¹ Cu(ii), and 174.9 mg g⁻¹ Pb(ii) at 25 °C. This result shows that modified GGM hemicelluloses can be employed as renewable adsorbents to remove Cu(ii), Cd(ii), and Pb(ii) ions from aqueous solutions.

The adsorption of Cu(ii), Cd(ii), and Pb(ii) ions onto hydrogels derived from modified galactoglucomannan (GGM) hemicellulose was studied.