I - Ecologically responsible and efficient recycling of Pd from aqueous effluents using biosorption on biomass feedstock

In the current context of the considerable interest in palladium (Pd), a new process of Pd biosorption is described with various natural materials derived from plant feedstocks. Eichhornia crassipes was chosen as a model plant for determining the thermodynamic and kinetic parameters of Pd biosorption. The optimised process was then tested on other natural materials (wheat, pine cones, coffee grounds, green tea grounds), powders derived from dead native (Mentha aquatica) and invasive aquatic plants (Pistia stratiotes, Ludwigia peploides). The competitive biosorption of other platinum group metals, i.e. Pd, Ru, Ir, Rh, Pt) was also evaluated using E. crassipes. Moreover, selective separation of Pd, Pt, Ru and Ir was possible. Mechanistic investigations allowed us to explain the high affinity of Pd for root powder obtained from aquatic plants. (C) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

In the current study, a novel process of Pd biosorption using natural materials derived from plant feedstocks was described. Eichhornia crassipes exhibited excellent Pd biosorption performance, and the optimized process was successfully applied to other natural materials, achieving selective separation of Pd from other platinum group metals.