Biosorption of heavy metals from phosphate-processing effluent by Serratia rubidaea NCTC12971 immobilized in Ca-alginate beads

In this study, the biosorption ability of various potentially toxic elements from phosphate-processing effluent (PPE) using the indigenous bacterium Serratia rubidaea NCTC12971 immobilized in Ca-alginate beads was investigated. The experimental data analyzed by the Langmuir isotherm revealed that the optimum dose of 2 g.100 ml(-1) of immobilized S. rubidaea NCTC12971 at pH 7 and a contact time of 48 h allowed the removal of 92.07%, 98.05%, 95.57%, and 88.39% of lead (Pb (II)), cadmium (Cd (II)), copper (Cu (II)), and zinc (Zn (II)), respectively. Moreover, under the Langmuir isotherm, the maximum single-layer adsorption capacity (qmax) of the biosorbent was estimated to 32.14 mg g(-1), 45.87 mg g(-1), 0.06 mg g(-1), and 3.01 mg g(-1) for Pb (II), Cd (II), Cu (II), and Zn (II), respectively, under the stated conditions. Alternatively, the regeneration and reuse of the Ca-alginate beads was evaluated. Indeed, after four consecutive adsorption-desorption cycles, there was no significant loss in the biosorption capacity. The effectiveness of the bacterial biosorption as treatment process was evaluated by assessing the phytotoxicity of the treated effluent (TE) on Medicago sativa and Lactuca sativa seed germination and their root elongation. Results exhibited a significant toxicity removal expressed by a notable increase in the germination indices (GI), which reach 80% and 70%, respectively, for Medicago sativa and Lactuca sativa compared to the GI values of 46.6% and 16.6% of the same species in presence of the untreated effluent (PPE).

Automated summary

This study investigates the biosorption ability of indigenous bacterium Serratia rubidaea NCTC12971 immobilized in Ca-alginate beads for removing potentially toxic elements from phosphate-processing effluent (PPE). The experimental results show that the immobilized S. rubidaea NCTC12971 can effectively remove lead, cadmium, copper, and zinc from PPE. Furthermore, the regeneration and reuse of the Ca-alginate beads are also evaluated, and the effectiveness of the bacterial biosorption as a treatment process is demonstrated by assessing the phytotoxicity of the treated effluent on Medicago sativa and Lactuca sativa seed germination and root elongation.