Efficiency of Extremophilic Microbial Mats for Removing of Pb(II), Cu(II) and Ni(II) ions from Aqueous Solutions

Abstract Two different extremophilic films were used as natural biosorbents to remove Cu(II), Ni(II) and Pb(II) from aqueous solution. Surface area, scanning electron microscope imaging and Fourier transformation infrared were used to characterize the surface of biosorbents. The results indicated high affinity of biosorbents to remove Pb(II) Cu(II) and Ni(II) with adsorption ratio ranged between 73.6–100% for both two biosorbent. The two biosorbents success to remove the metal ions from the aqueous mixture in the order of Pb(II) > Cu(II) > Ni(II). The maximum removal ratios of metal ions were achieved at pH = 6, 150 min contact time, 2.5 g/L biosorbent dose and 50 mg/L metal ions. The isothermal studies showed that both Langmuir and Freundlich models well expressed the adsorption process. Kinetically, the pseudo-second order reaction well express the type of reaction than pseud-first order reaction.