Extended use of Sphagnum peat as a biosorbent for Zn(II): repetitious sorption-desorption process
Riga Technical University, Research Centre for Civil Engineering, Water Research Laboratory, P. Valdena street 1-204, LV-1048 Riga, Latvia
*Correspondence: viktorija.denisova@rtu.lv
Abstract:
In this study, continuous biosorption-desorption cycles in a fixed-bed column were performed to evaluate the extended use of sphagnum peat as biosorbent material to remove Zn(II) ions from aqueous solutions. Biosorption-desorption studies revealed that the sphagnum peat as biosorbent could be regenerated using 0.1M HCl as eluting agent with more than 70% recovery in four successive biosorption-desorption cycles. The results showed that the sphagnum peat should be used as an alternative, effective and low-cost biosorbent for Zn(II) ions removal from polluted aqueous solution.
Key words:
biosorption-desorption process, fixed-bed column, sphagnum peat, zinc