Biosorption of lead (II) from aqueous solution by a bacterial dead Streptomyces rimosus biomass

The lead biosorption capacity of a Streptomyces rimosus biomass treated with NaOH (0.1 M) was studied in the batch mode. After pretreatment of biomass at the ambient temperature, optimum conditions of biosorption were found to be: a biomass particle size between 50 and 160 mum, an average contact time of 3 h, a biomass concentration of 3 g/l and a stirring speed of 250 rpm. The equilibrium data could be fitted by Langmuir isotherm equation. Under these optimal conditions, 135 mg Pb2+/g biomass was obtained. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.