The process of flotation: an efficient solid/liquid separation technique for biological materials

The studied innovative wastewater treatment process involved the initial abstraction of heavy metal ions onto fungal or stalks biomass (biosorption), followed by the application of a typical flotation stage for the efficient downstream separation of metal-laden biosorbent particles. The ability of microorganisms to remove metal ions from dilute aqueous solutions is a well-known property. Flotation originated from the minerals' processing field; however, it has nowadays found application in the wastewater treatment field. The two processes of biosorption and flotation can be efficiently combined, forming the so-called 'biosorptive flotation' process.     

Application of flotation for the separation of metal-loaded zeolites

Several industrial wastewater streams may contain heavy metal ions, which must be effectively removed, before the discharge or reuse of treated waters could take place. Different bonding materials, presenting selectivity and fast reaction kinetics for the removal of metals, have been examined for this purpose. The objective of the present paper was to investigate the application of dispersed-air flotation for the separation of metal-loaded sorbents. Two similar zeolite samples were applied as effective bonding agents for the removal of zinc, a toxic metal commonly found in many industrial wastewaters. This combined process, termed sorptive flotation, involves the preliminary scavenging of metal ions, by using the appropriate sorbent particles (usually present as ultrafine particulates), followed by flotation for the effective separation of them. The obtained results were very promising, as both metal and sorbent were effectively removed/separated from the dispersion.     

Biosorption of copper(II) from aqueous solutions by pre-treated biomass of marine algae Padina sp

Biosorption of heavy metals can be an effective process for the removal and recovery of heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions. The biomass of marine algae has been reported to have high uptake capacities for a number of heavy metal ions. In this paper, the adsorption properties of a pre-treated biomass of marine algae Padina sp. for copper(II) were investigated. Equilibrium isotherms and kinetics were obtained from batch adsorption experiments. The biosorption capacities were solution pH dependent and the maximum capacity obtained was 0.80 mmol/g at a solution pH of about 5. The biosorption kinetics was found to be fast, with 90% of adsorption within 15 min and equilibrium reached at 30 min. The effects of light metal ions on copper(II) uptake were studied and the presence of light metal ions did not affect copper(II) uptake significantly. Fixed-bed breakthrough curves for copper(II) removal were also obtained. This study demonstrated that the pre-treated biomass of Padina sp. could be used as an effective biosorbent for the treatment of copper(II) containing wastewater streams.     

重金属废水的生物处理技术

介绍了重金属废水生物处理技术的一般原理 ,主要分析了微生物絮凝法、生物吸附法和植物修复技术的研究现状及应用前景。指出了利用生物化学方法处理重金属废水是一种长期、高效、经济、可靠的方法。     

Biosorption of lead(II) in aqueous solution by spent mushroom Tricholoma lobayense

The biosorption of lead(II) ions in both simulated and real wastewater by spent mushroom Tricholoma lobayense, was studied in this work. The results show a biomass with a high potential for removing lead ions from wastewater. The optimum pH for the adsorption is 4, and the adsorption process is fast. The best sorbent mass of the biomaterial is 5 g/L with an initial lead(II) concentration of 1 mmol/L. The process follows the Langmuir isotherm model, and the biosorption capacity of lead ions reaches to 210 mg/g, which is higher than many biosorbents previously studied. The mechanism of biosorption may be mainly attributed to ion exchange. The FT-IR study identifies the functional groups responsible for this process. A scanning electron microscope showed a significant change of the sorbent surface after the biosorption process. The energy dispersive elemental analysis also confirmed the adsorption of lead(II) ions.     

利用污泥进行水体中重金属生物吸附研究现状及展望

对国内外利用废水处理等工业过程中所产生的污泥作为生物吸附剂吸附水体中重金属的研究现状进行了综述和分析，包括其预处理技术、反应机理、主要影响因素、处理效果以及反应器工艺等。同时，对该技术未来的发展趋势进行了展望，指出依托现有废水处理设施进行集约化开发将是该工艺的发展方向。     

离子吸附技术在废水处理中的应用和发展

本文介绍了废水中金属离子处理技术的发展 ,包括离子交换树脂技术 ,功能高分子吸附技术 ,生物吸附应用以及电渗析技术等。     

Equilibrium, kinetic, and thermodynamic biosorption of Pb(II), Cr(III), and Cd(II) ions by dead anaerobic biomass from synthetic wastewater

Purpose

Heavy metals are toxic pollutants released into the environment as a result of different industrial activities. Biosorption of heavy metals from aqueous solutions is a new technology for the treatment of industrial wastewater. The aim of the present research is to highlight the basic biosorption theory to heavy metal removal.

Materials and methods

Heterogeneous cultures mostly dried anaerobic bacteria, yeast (fungi), and protozoa were used as low-cost material to remove metallic cations Pb(II), Cr(III), and Cd(II) from synthetic wastewater. Competitive biosorption of these metals was studied.

Results

The main biosorption mechanisms were complexation and physical adsorption onto natural active functional groups. It is observed that biosorption of these metals was a surface process. The main functional groups involved in these processes were hydroxyl (–OH) and carboxylic groups (C=O) with 37, 52, and 31 and 21, 14, and 34 % removal of Pb(II), Cr(III), and Cd(II), respectively. Langmuir was the best model for a single system. While extended Langmuir was the best model for binary and ternary metal systems. The maximum uptake capacities were 54.92, 34.78, and 29.99 mg/g and pore diffusion coefficients were 7.23, 3.15, and 2.76?×?10^?11 m²/s for Pb(II), Cr(III), and Cd(II), respectively. Optimum pH was found to be 4. Pseudo-second-order was the best model to predict the kinetic process. Biosorption process was exothermic and physical in nature.

Conclusions

Pb(II) offers the strongest component that is able to displace Cr(III) and Cd(II) from their sites, while Cd(II) ions are the weakest adsorbed component.     

Biosorption of Cr3+, Cd2+ and Cu2+ ions by blue-green algae Spirulina sp.: kinetics, equilibrium and the mechanism of the process

The process of biosorption of heavy metal ions (Cr3+, Cd2+, Cu2+) by blue-green algae Spirulina sp. is discussed in this paper. Spirulina sp. was found to be a very efficient biosorbent. The aim of the present study was to investigate quantitatively the potential binding sites present at the surface of Spirulina sp., using both potentiometric titrations and adsorption isotherms. The kinetic experiments showed that the process equilibrium was reached quickly, in less than 5-10 min. It was found that the equilibrium dependence between biosorption capacity and bulk metal ion concentration could be described with Langmuir equation. This suggests that the mechanism of biosorption is rather chemisorption than physical adsorption and was further confirmed by the low surface area associated with physical adsorption and by the presence of cations that appeared in the solution after biosorption. The maximum contribution of physical adsorption in the overall biosorption process was evaluated as 3.7%. It was proposed that functional groups on the cell surface contributed to the binding of metal ions by a biosorbent via equilibrium reaction. Three functional groups capable of cation exchange were identified on the cell surface. The biomass was described as weakly acidic ion exchanger. Since deprotonation of each functional group depends on pH, the process of biosorption is strongly pH-dependent. This was confirmed in the biosorption experiments carried out at different pH. The contribution of functional groups in the biosorption process was confirmed by chemical modification of the groups. Chemically blocked groups did not show neither biosorption nor ion-exchange capabilities. It has been shown that growth conditions can affect the metal adsorption properties of microalgae. The paper also discusses desorption characteristics of the biosorbent. The criteria for desorption were high elution efficiency and preservation of biosorptive properties. Desorbent that possessed these characteristics was nitric acid.     

棘孢曲霉(Aspergillus aculeatus)对Pb~(2+)和Cd~(2+)的吸附特征

为了研究棘孢曲霉(Aspergillus aculeatus)对溶液中Pb~(2+)和Cd~(2+)吸附过程的特征,分别从动力学、热力学和吸附等温线三方面进行了实验,同时还研究了pH、温度、时间、重金属离子起始浓度和吸附剂用量对吸附过程的影响。等温吸附过程可以用Langmuir方程来描述。在实验设定条件下,棘孢曲霉对Pb~(2+)和Cd~(2+)最大吸附量分别为71.2 mg/g和59.8 mg/g;动力学实验数据很好的符合二级动力学方程,吸附达到平衡的时间为3 h;热力学实验数据显示该吸附过程为自发的、吸热的过程。     

棘孢曲霉（Aspergillus aculeatus）对Pb^2＋和Cd^2＋的吸附特征

为了研究棘孢曲霉（Aspergillus aculeatus）对溶液中Pb^2＋和Cd^2＋吸附过程的特征，分别从动力学、热力学和吸附等温线三方面进行了实验，同时还研究了pH、温度、时间、重金属离子起始浓度和吸附剂用量对吸附过程的影响。等温吸附过程可以用Langmuir方程来描述。在实验设定条件下，棘孢曲霉对Pb^2＋和Cd^2＋最大吸附量分别为71．2mg／g和59．8mg／g；动力学实验数据很好的符合二级动力学方程，吸附达到平衡的时间为3h；热力学实验数据显示该吸附过程为自发的、吸热的过程。     

棘孢曲霉（Aspergillus aculeatus）对Pb2＋和Cd2＋的吸附特征

为了研究棘孢曲霉（Aspergillus aculeatus）对溶液中Pb^2＋和Cd^2＋吸附过程的特征，分别从动力学、热力学和吸附等温线三方面进行了实验，同时还研究了pH、温度、时间、重金属离子起始浓度和吸附剂用量对吸附过程的影响。等温吸附过程可以用Langmuir方程来描述。在实验设定条件下，棘孢曲霉对Pb^2＋和Cd^2＋最大吸附量分别为71.2 mg/g和59.8 mg/g；动力学实验数据很好的符合二级     

臭氧生物活性炭工艺处理某多金属硫化矿浮选废水的小试研究

某多金属硫化矿选矿厂浮选废水水量大,目前该厂对浮选废水的处理方法为尾矿库砂滤治理,但该方法存在效率低、周期长、回用影响选矿指标等众多弊端。为高效低成本的处理浮选废水,结合浮选废水的特点(低COD、难降解、高pH),开展了臭氧氧化-生物活性炭吸附工艺处理选矿废水的小试研究。选矿废水中各残留有机药剂及pH对浮选指标的影响研究表明,废水中残留有机药剂及pH对浮选指标均有不同程度的影响。臭氧氧化-生活活性炭吸附工艺处理选矿废水的小试研究表明,水力停留时间为4 h、反应器臭氧浓度为33.3 mg/L,可获得COD去除率57%、pH降低到8的废水处理效果。将处理后的废水回用于选矿,基本消除残留药剂及pH对浮选指标的影响。本研究提供了一种处理浮选废水的新思路,对臭氧生物活性炭工艺处理浮选废水的工业应用具备参考价值。     

Retrieval of heavy metal ions from solution via ferritisation

The paper summarises the results of the studies on retrieval of heavy metal ions in solution by ferritisation and its potential application in waste-water treatment. The optimum procedure for ferritisation of heavy metal ions in solution has been evolved with respect to pH, concentration of Fe2+, rate and time of aeration and temperature. The recommended procedure consists of controlled aeration of the solution containing heavy metal ions and ferrous ions at pH 9.5-10.5 at about 50 degrees C, until the black, granular, magnetic ferrite separates out. The metal ferrites can also be formed, even without heating or forced aeration, by ageing the mixed metal hydroxide precipitate at pH 10 to 11. The metal ferrites formed have been characterised by X-ray diffractometry. The laboratory-scope experiments conducted with synthetic heavy metal solutions as well as actual wastewater from a tanning industry showed that heavy metal ions can be effectively removed from solution to sub-ppm levels. The metal ferrites thus recovered may find commercial application as microwave absorbers, catalysts, metal scavengers, etc. This technique seems to have potential application in simultaneous, one step removal of different heavy metal ions from industrial wastewaters.     

离子交换纤维对金属氰络合物吸附性能的研究

采用强碱性离子交换纤维对含氰废水中主要离子铜氰络合物、锌氰络合物的吸附性能进行了研究.实验结果表明:含氰废水的pH在8～11范围内,纤维材料对金属氰络合物具有良好的吸附性能;纤维对铜氰络合物、锌氰络合物的吸附速率很快,4 min左右就可达吸附平衡;温度对铜氰络合物、锌氰络合物吸附影响不大,纤维的这些吸附特点对工业应用非常有利.     

满江红干体对锌离子的生物吸附

以满江红干体为生物吸附剂，研究了不同条件下对废水中Zn²⁺的净化作用。结果表明，满江红干体对Zn²⁺的吸附是一个快速的过程，前5 min的吸附量达到最大吸附量的62.9%，30 min达到吸附平衡；初始pH值对Zn²⁺的吸附有显著的影响，最适pH值为6；随着干体量的增加，吸附率逐渐提高而吸附量则降低；随着Zn²⁺初始浓度的增加，吸附率逐渐降低而吸附量则提高。满江红干体对Zn²⁺的吸附符合Langmuir吸附等温线方程，最大吸附容量达57.5 mg/g。5次吸附解吸循环实验数据表明，重复次数和再生处理对满江红干体的吸附能力没有产生显著影响。因此，满江红干体在处理含Zn²⁺废水中的重复使用是可行的。     

离子交换纤维对金属氰络合物吸附性能的研究

采用强碱性离子交换纤维对含氰废水中主要离子铜氰络合物、锌氰络合物的吸附性能进行了研究。实验结果表明：含氰废水的pH在8—11范围内，纤维材料对金属氰络合物具有良好的吸附性能；纤维对铜氰络合物、锌氰络合物的吸附速率很快，4min左右就可达吸附平衡；温度对铜氰络合物、锌氰络合物吸附影响不大，纤维的这些吸附特点对工业应用非常有利。     

The recovery of copper from a copper mine effluent in a hybrid flotation/microfiltration cell

A new hybrid process for cleaning wastewater, combining flotation and membrane microfiltration, was investigated. The hybrid process combined the advantages of both flotation and membrane separation: the flotation cell removed a large proportion of suspended solid particles, while the membrane module produced clean water permeate effluent. The hybrid cell performance has been studied in depth and reviewed in the current paper. The proof of concept for the hybrid solid/liquid separation process was investigated using an aqueous suspension of fine and ultra fine particles (synthetic adsorbents, ion exchangers). The feasibility of this combined process was investigated in the recovery of metal cations (copper) from a Bulgarian copper mine effluent.     

Metals removal from aqueous solution by iron-based bonding agents

GOAL AND SCOPE AND BACKGROUND: The application of a promising method, termed sorptive flotation, for the removal of chromium(VI) and zinc ions was the aim of the present paper. A special case of sorptive flotation is adsorbing colloid flotation. Suitable sorbent preparation techniques have been developed in the laboratory. METHODS: Sorptive flotation, consisting of the sorption and flotation processes combined in series, has proved to give fast and satisfactory treatment of the industrial streams and effluents bearing dilute aqueous solutions of zinc and chromium(VI). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Goethite has proved to be effective for the removal of chromium(VI) and zinc ions. Also, adsorbing colloid flotation with ferric hydroxide (as the co-precipitant) could be an alternative method to the above-mentioned separation of metal ions. In both cases, chromium(VI) (pH=4) and zinc (pH=7) removal was about 100%. CONCLUSION: The reasons for selecting the iron-based bonding materials, like goethite and/or in-situ produced ferric hydroxide, are that they are cheap, easily synthesized, suitable both for cation and anion sorption, and, furthermore, that they present low risks for adding a further pollutant to the system. Promising results were obtained. RECOMMENDATION AND OUTLOOK: The application of goethite and in-situ produced ferric hydroxide has demonstrated their effectiveness in the removal of heavy metal ions, such as chromium anions and zinc cations. A proposed continuation of current work is the utilization of similar iron oxides, for instance synthesized akaganeite. The comparison between the results reported in this paper with the results reported in the literature, also deserves attention.     

Evaluation of different isotherm models,kinetic, thermodynamic,and copper biosorption efficiency of Lobaria pulmonaria (L.) Hoffm.

The biosorption characteristics of Cu(II) ions from aqueous solution using Lobaria pulmonaria (L.) Hoffm. biomass were investigated. The biosorption efficiency of Cu(II) onto biomass was significantly influenced by the operating parameters. The maximum biosorption efficiency of L. pulmonaria was 65.3% at 10 mg/L initial metal concentration for 5 g/L lichen biomass dosage. The biosorption of Cu(II) ions onto biomass fits the Langmuir isotherm model and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model well. The thermodynamic parameters indicate the feasibility and exothermic and spontaneous nature of the biosorption. The effective desorption achieved with HCl was 96%. Information on the nature of possible interactions between the functional groups of the L. pulmonaria biomass and Cu(II) ions was obtained via Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The results indicated that the carboxyl (–COOH) and hydroxyl (–OH) groups of the biomass were mainly involved in the biosorption of Cu(II) onto L. pulmonaria biomass. The L. pulmonaria is a promising biosorbent for Cu(II) ions because of its availability, low cost, and high metal biosorption and desorption capacities.

Implications: Lobaria pulmonaria is a promising biosorbent for Cu(II) ions because of its availability, low cost, and high metal biosorption and desorption capacities. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper on the biosorption Cu by L. pulmonaria.