Journal
POLYMERS
Volume 14, Issue 21, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/polym14214585
Keywords
biomass; Spirulina; rare earth elements; kinetics; isotherms
Categories
Funding
- CAPES
- CNPq
- FAPERGS
- Bio4Energy-a Strategic Research Environment
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
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In this study, two strains of Spirulina platensis were used as biosorbents to efficiently remove Nd element from aqueous media, with LEB-18 showing better biosorption results. The research proposed a mechanism of electrostatic attraction between Nd3+ and phosphate and sulfate groups of Spirulina platensis.
Rare earth elements such as neodymium (Nd) are important elements used mainly in developing new technologies. Although they are found in low concentrations in nature, they can be obtained by extracting solid samples such as phosphogypsum. Among the techniques, adsorption has been used successfully with several adsorbent materials. In this work, two strains of Spirulina platensis (LEB-18 and LEB-52) were employed as biosorbents for efficiently removing the Nd element from the aqueous media. Biosorption tests were carried out in a batch system, and the results of the biosorption kinetics showed that for both materials, the biosorption of Nd was better described by the Avrami model. Moreover, it could be considered that 80 min would be necessary to attain the equilibrium of Nd(III) using both biosorbents. The result of the biosorption isotherms showed that for both strains, the best-fitted model was the Liu model, having a maximum biosorption capacity of 72.5 mg g(-1) for LEB-18 and 48.2 mg g(-1) for LEB-52 at a temperature of 298 K. Thermodynamics of adsorption showed that for both LEB-18 and LEB-52 the process was favorable ( increment G degrees < 0) and exothermic ( increment H degrees -23.2 for LEB-18 and increment H degrees -19.9 for LEB-52). Finally, both strains were suitable to uptake Nd, and the better result of LEB-18 could be attributed to the high amount of P and S groups in this biomass. Based on the results, a mechanism of electrostatic attraction of Nd3+ and phosphate and sulfate groups of both strains of Spirulina platensis was proposed.
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