BIOSORPTION OF Ag+, Cu2+ AND Fe3+ BY GELLAN GUM

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Biochem. Dept., Fac. Agric., Zagazig Univ., Egypt

Abstract

The biosorption behaviors and mechanisms for Ag+, Cu2+and Fe3+ by a novel exopolysaccharide (gellan) from Sphingomonas paucimobilis have been studied in this paper. The influences of gellan concentration, solution pH, desorption study and ionic strength on adsorption property were investigated. The gellan showed strong biosorption capability, up to 169.15 mg/g of Ag+, 216.09 mg/g of Cu2+ and 84.47 mg/g of Fe3+, respectively. Infrared spectrometry analysis demonstrated that the groups of O—H, C=O, C—O—C and CH2 of the gellan which involved in metal biosorption process were the main functional groups for binding metal ions. Solvent of 0.1N Sulphuric acid showed higher desorption of Ag+ (94%), Cu2+ (90%), Fe3+ (86%) and adsorption-desorption process can be continued till seven cycles efficiently.

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