Adsorptive Removal of Strontium from Aqueous Solution by Utilizing Pseudomonas Alcaligenes Biomass as Biosorbent

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the feasibility of Pseudomonas alcaligenes biomass for the removal of strontium ions from aqueous solutions. Batch experiments were performed to study the adsorption of strontium on pH, Pseudomonas alcaligenes biomass adsorbent with respect to initial Sr(II) concentration, contact time and biomass dose. The experimental data were modeled by Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. Langmuir model resulted in the best fit of the adsorption data. The maximum adsorption capacity for Sr(II) was 67.35 mg/g (pH 6.0 and 5 g·L^-1 biomass dose). Kinetics of adsorption followed second-order rate equations. The FTIR results of Pseudomonas alcaligenes biomass showed that biomass has different functional groups and these functional groups are able to react with metal ion in aqueous solution. The results of the present study suggest that Pseudomonas alcaligenes biomass can be used beneficially in treating industrial effluents containing heavy metal ions.