Title: Efficacy of various biosorbents for removal of endosulfan from water environment

Authors: Deepika Dave; Anil Kumar Dikshit

Addresses: Process Engineering and Applied Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3J 2X4, Canada ' Centre for Environmental Science and Engineering, IIT Bombay, Powai, Mumbai 400 076, India; University of Kwa Zulu Natal, Durban, South Africa; School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 639798, Singapore

Abstract: In this study, the efficacy of biosorbents prepared from various cultures for removal of endosulfan from water environment was evaluated. Seven different biosorbents from Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus megaterium, Escherichia coli, Rhizopus arrihzus, Aspergillus nidulans, Cladosporium and activated sludge biomass were synthesised and assessed for biosorption of endosulfan from water environment. Biosorption experiments were conducted for each biosorbent with 1 mg/l endosulfan solution at 250 rpm for three days at biosorbent doses ranging 2.5-50 mg. Saturation capacity of the biosorbent was taken as the key parameter for selecting the most suitable biosorbent for further research. The isotherms were developed for all biosorbents and linear regression analysis was carried out with BET, Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption equilibrium models to determine the saturation capacities. The biosorbent prepared from fungal strain Aspergillus nidulans was found to be most appropriate as it exhibited the maximum saturation capacity of 43.6 mg/g of endosulfan among all biosorbents.

Keywords: BET; biosorption; endosulfan removal; Freundlich; Langmuir; adsorption equilibrium models; modelling; biosorbents; water pollution; saturation capacity.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEE.2014.064304

International Journal of Environmental Engineering, 2014 Vol.6 No.3, pp.287 - 302

Received: 17 Aug 2011
Accepted: 03 Aug 2012
Published online: 30 Aug 2014 *

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