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International Journal of Environment Science and Technology
Center for Environment and Energy Research and Studies (CEERS)
ISSN: 1735-1472 EISSN: 1735-1472
Vol. 11, No. 6, 2014, pp. 1711-1722
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Bioline Code: st14167
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge
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International Journal of Environment Science and Technology, Vol. 11, No. 6, 2014, pp. 1711-1722
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Biosorption of ammoniacal nitrogen from aqueous solutions with low-cost biomaterials: kinetics and optimization of contact time
Mansuri, N.; Mody, K. & Basha, S.
Abstract
The biosorption of ammoniacal nitrogen (NNH4+) from aqueous solutions by dead biomass of brown
seaweed Cystoseira indica and Jatropha oil cake (JOC),
which is generated in the process of biodiesel recovery
from its seeds, was studied under diverse experimental
conditions. The N-NH4+ biosorption was strictly pH
dependent, and maximum uptake capacity of C. indica
(15.21 mg/g) and JOC (13.59 mg/g) was observed at initial
pH 7 and 3, respectively. For each biosorbent–N-NH4+
system, kinetic models were applied to the experimental
data to examine the mechanisms of sorption and potential
rate-controlling steps. The generalized rate model and
pseudo-second-order kinetic models described the biosorption
kinetics accurately, and the sorption process was
found to be controlled by pore and surface diffusion for
these biosorbents. Results of four-stage batch biosorber
design analysis revealed that the required time for the 99 %
efficiency removal of 40 mg/L N-NH4+ from 500 L of
aqueous solution were 76 and 96 min for C. indica and
JOC, respectively. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy
analysis before and after biosorption of ammonium
onto C. indica and JOC revealed involvement of
carboxylic and hydroxyl functional groups.
Keywords
Cystoseira indica; Jatropha oil cake; Biosorption; Ammoniacal nitrogen kinetics; Diffusion models; Optimization
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