Effect of Reaction Conditions on the Uptake of Selected Heavy Metals from Aqueous Media using Composite from Renewable Materials

This study is aimed at developing a value added biosorption product and a cost effective biotechnology for the uptake of heavy metals and organic compounds from aqueous media. The practical problems of cellulose solubility at low pH aqueous systems, gel forming behavior and mass transfer limitations were overcome in this study by coating bamboo culms cellulosic on bamboo culms carbon to form a rigid matrix structure of better mechanical strength, the coating process yielded a stable granular composite adsorbent that was stable under acidic conditions. The adsorption capacity was evaluated by measuring the extent of adsorption of chromium, cadmium, and lead metal ions, from aqueous media under equilibrium and reaction conditions. Equilibrium data at optimized condition yielded the following uptake efficiency values: 93% Cr, 76%Pb, and 82% Cd. The composite compared with other adsorbents also prepared showed better performance.