Biosorption of hexavalent chromium from aqueous solution on Kala Jamun (Syzygium cumini)seed powder

SumiDeka; Krishna G Bhattacharyya

Volume : IV, Issue : IX, September - 2015

Biosorption of hexavalent chromium from aqueous solution on Kala Jamun (Syzygium cumini)seed powder

Sumideka, Krishna G Bhattacharyya

Abstract :

A plant–based biosorbent was prepared by grinding clean, dried Kala Jamun (Syzygium cumini) Seeds and the powder (KSP) was utilized as a biosorbent for the removal of hexavalent chromium Cr(VI) from aqueous solution. FTIR, SEM, Surface area, Cation Exchange Capacity and Anion Exchange Capacity measurements were used to characterize the biosorbent. The effects of pH, contact time, initial concentration and adsorbent amount on adsorption of Cr(VI) on KSP at room temperature were studied in detail. Equiliium was attained at 180 min and the maximum adsorption was obtained at an optimum pH of 3.0. The Equiliium data fitted both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. A two–step pseudo first order kinetic model agreed well with the dynamic biosorption behaviour. The optimum Cr(VI) removal from aqueous solution was 97.5% at pH 3.0 with a KSP loading of 3.0 gL–1 at 303 K. The Kala Jamun Seed powder has proven to be an efficient biosorbent for Cr(VI) in aqueous solution.