Enhanced biosorption of Cr(VI) from contaminated water using biodegradable natural polymeric biosorbent

Biosorption is a new technology for the exclusion of heavy metals from industrial runoffs. The current research was focused on an exploration of the sequestration of Cr(VI) from synthetic medium using turmeric leaves powder (TLP). Characterization of TLP before and after biosorption was studied using FTIR, SEM, EDS. Central Composite Design (CCD) based on Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was utilized to optimize key process variables like pH, initial concentration and dose. The maximum % biosorption (97.84 %) was achieved at optimized conditions of 2.14 pH, 20.32 mg/L initial concentration and 0.038 g dosage. Langmuir model and Pseudo second order rate models best suited the adsorption process, implying that Cr(VI) ions were adsorbed onto the TLP in monolayer due to their chemical affinity. The thermodynamic characteristics prove the process' feasibility, spontaneity, and exothermic nature of adsorption. Desorption tests were carried out to investigate the regain performance of the TLP in a variety of applications. The result infers that TLP is a promising, eco-friendly, effectual and economic biosorbent for removing Cr(VI) from aqueous media.