Biosorption of copper (II) from aqueous solution by mycelial pellets of Rhizopus oryzae

Abstract

In the present study, mycelial pellets of Rhizopus oryzae (MPRO) were investigated as a potential biosorbent for the removal of copper (II) from aqueous solution. The effects of the pellet diameter, solution pH, contact time, initial copper (II) concentration and temperature were studied. The optimum diameter and pH for biosorption of copper (II) was found to be 1.0 to 1.2 mm and 4.0. Evaluation of the experimental data in terms of biosorption dynamics showed that the biosorption of copper (II) onto MPRO followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The equilibrium data fitted very well to the Langmuir adsorption model in the concentration range of copper (II) and at all the temperatures studied. The calculated thermodynamic parameters (ΔG°, ΔH° and ΔS°) showed that the biosorption of copper (II) were feasible, spontaneous and endothermic at the temperature ranges of 298 to 318K.

Key words: Biosorption, copper (II), mycelial pellet, Rhizopus oryzae.