International Journal of Biotechnology Research Vol. 2(3), pp. 026-036, May 2014 ISSN 2328-3505 ©2014 Academe Research Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Biosorption of lanthanum from aqueous solution using Pleurotus ostreatus basidiocarps

Shimaa S. Hussien

Nuclear Materials Authority, P.O. Box 530 El-Maadi, Cairo, Egypt. E-mail: mash_1997@yahoo.com. Tel: 01223906570. Fax: (202)27585832.

Accepted 11 April, 2014

Abstract

The biosorption of lanthanum by Pleurotus ostreatus biomass is determined at varying experimental conditions using a batch technique. The effects of pretreatment, initial metal ion concentration, initial pH, biosorbent dosage, contact time and temperature have been investigated. The optimum biosorption conditions for biosorption are as follows: 150 mg/L of La³⁺ as initial concentration, 500 mg/L (dry wt. cell) biomass for biosorption, pH 6.8, temperature 40°C, biosorption time 10 min and mixing speed 175 rpm. The Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms are applied to represent the biosorption process. Langmuir isotherm fits the experimental data quite well. The Langmuir monolayer capacity of the sorbent is 54.54 mg/g. Thermodynamic parameters such as standard enthalpy (ΔH°), entropy (ΔS°) and free energy (ΔG°) are calculated from the slope and intercept of the plots of lnKd versus 1/T. The results indicated that sorption is endothermic and spontaneous in nature. SEM and IR analyses are used for characterization of the biosorbent agent after and before the biosorption process. The work reveals that P. ostreatus biomass is a good choice as a biosorbent for the recovery of lanthanum from aqueous solution.

Key words: Biosorption, lanthanum, thermodynamic, Pleurotus ostreatus.