Mono- and multi-component biosorption of lead(II), cadmium(II), copper(II) and nickel(II) ions onto coco-peat biomass

The potential of using coco-peat biomass (CPB) has been assessed for the removal of Pb(II), Cd(II), Cu(II) and Ni(II) ions from single and quaternary solutions. According to Langmuir isotherm, the maximum biosorption capacity of CPB was 0.484, 0.151, 0.383 and 0.181 mmol/g for Pb(II), Cd(II), Cu(II) and Ni(II) ions, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy along with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and Fourier-transform IR spectroscopy confirmed changes in the biosorbent functionality after metal sorption. Through quaternary isotherm experiments, 16.1%, 48.2%, 32.3% and 46.5% decrease in experimental uptakes were observed for Pb(II), Cd(II), Cu(II) and Ni(II), respectively, in the presence of other metal ions.