An efficient of Sansevieria trifasciata plant as biosorbent for the treatment of metal contaminated industrial effluents

Sansevieria trifasciata was studied as a potential biosorbent for chromium, copper and nickel removal in batch process from electroplating and tannery effluents. Different parameters influencing the biosorption process such as pH, contact time, and amount of biosorbent were optimized while using the 80 mm sized particles of the biosorbent. As high as 91.3 % Ni and 92.7 % Cu were removed at pH of 6 and 4.5 respectively, while optimum Cr removal of 91.34 % from electroplating and 94.6 % from tannery effluents was found at pH 6.0 and 4.0 respectively. Pseudo second order model was found to best fit the kinetic data for all the metals as evidenced by their greater R2 values. FTIR characterization of biosorbent revealed the presence of carboxyl and hydroxyl groups on its surface that were responsible for metal uptake. The data for Cr removal from both the effluents was best explained by Langmuir model, while data for Ni and Cu removal was best fitted to Freundlich isotherm. Moreover, 84% biosorbent was recovered on desorption.