No CrossRef data available.
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2011
Major adsorbent materials used in heavy metal ion removal from polluted aqueous streams are expensive and difficult to regenerate. In this study, the possibility of using pectin, as an alternative biosorbent material to remediate heavy metal pollution was investigated. The effects of different parameters such as pH, concentration and temperature of metal solution, and contact time on the biosorption process were studied. The maximum removal efficiency was obtained at pH 2.0 for lead and zinc and pH 4.0 for cadmium. For most of the metals tested, a contact time of 15 minutes was sufficient for achieving the maximum removal. There was no significant influence on the removal capacity of pectin by the concentration and temperature of the metal solution. Under these experimental conditions the biosorption was favorable (65% lead, 42% zinc and 55% cadmium). The ability to use pectin for the removal or recovery of metals from aqueous solutions is evident.