Abstract:
In this study, soy waste biomass (SW) resulting from oil extraction was treated with
alkaline solution, and the obtained material (Na-SW) was used as biosorbent for the removal of
Pb(II), Cd(II), and Zn(II) ions from aqueous media. The performance of this biosorbent was ex amined in batch systems, at different initial metal ion concentrations and contact times (pH 3.4;
5 g of biosorbent/L). Isotherm and kinetic modeling was used to calculate the equilibrium and
kinetics of the biosorption processes. The maximum biosorption capacity, calculated from the Lang muir isotherm model, followed the order Zn(II) (0.49 mmol/g) > Cd(II) (0.41 mmol/g) ≈ Pb(II)
(0.40 mmol/g), while the kinetics of biosorption processes fit the pseudo-second-order model. Three
cycles of biosorption/desorption were performed to estimate the reusability of Na-SW biosorbent,
and the regeneration efficiency was higher than 97% in all cases. The practical applicability of Na-SW
biosorbent in treating of wastewater contaminated with Pb(II), Cd(II), and Zn(II) ions was examined
using simulated wastewater samples, and the main quality characteristics of the effluents obtained
after treatment were evaluated. All these aspects highlight the potential applicability of Na-SW for
large-scale wastewater treatment.
