Enhanced and selective adsorption of Pb2+ and Cu2+ by EDTAD-modified biomass of baker’s yeast

Enhanced and selective removal of Pb2+ and Cu2+ in the presence of high concentration of K+, Na+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ were achieved by adsorption on biomass of baker’s yeast modified with ethylenediaminetetraacetic dianhydride (EDTAD). The modified biomass was found to have high adsorption capacities and fast rates for Pb2+ and Cu2+, and it also displayed consistently high levels of metal uptake over the pH range from 2.7 to 6.0. From Langmuir isotherm, the adsorption capacities for Pb2+ and Cu2+ were found to be 192.3 and 65.0 mg g−1, respectively, which are about 10 and 14 times higher than that of the unmodified biomass. Competitive biosorption experiments showed that the co-ions of K+, Na+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ had little effects on the uptake of Pb2+ and Cu2+ even at the concentration of 1.0 mol L−1. The adsorbed Pb2+ and Cu2+ on the modified biomass could be effectively desorbed in an EDTA solution, and the regenerated biomass could be reused repeatedly with little loss of the adsorption capacity.