Biosorption of Pb2+ and Cu2+ in aqueous solutions using agricultural wastes

This study aimed to determine and compare the adsorptive capacity of Pb 2+ and Cu 2+ in simulated wastewater onto three agricultural wastes The adsorption capacities of Pb 2+ onto the agricultural wastes can be arranged as Litchi chinensis (4.30 mg of sorbate per g of sorbent (mg g -1 ), 85.68% adsorption) > Bambusa vulgaris (3.83 mg g -1 , 76.19% adsorption) > Annona squamosa (2.70 mg g -1 , 53.66% adsorption) while the adsorption capacities of Cu 2+ onto the same agricultural wastes can be arranged in the order: Bambusa vulgaris (3.86 mg g -1 , 77.17% adsorption) > Annona squamosal (3.58 mg g -1 , 71.58% adsorption) > Litchi chinensis (3.42 mg g -1 , 68.32% adsorption). The biosorbents had relatively higher adsorptive capacities with Cu 2+ as compared to that of Pb 2+ except for Litchi chinensis . Although the results show lower adsorptive capacity as compared to a number of treated agricultural wastes showing 80% up to almost 100% adsorption of Pb 2+ and Cu 2+ , the results show that Annona squamosa , Bamubusa vulgaris , and Litchi chinensis are potential biosorbents and promote sustainable treatment process.