Biosorption kinetics of cerium(III) and cobalt(II) from liquid wastes using individual bacterial species isolated from low-level liquid radioactive wastes

The existence of toxic heavy metals in the aquatic environment has emphasized a considerable exigency to develop several multifunctional biosorbents for their removal. Herein, three individual bacterial species of Cellulosimicrobium cellulans, Bacillus coagulans, and Microbacterium testaceum were successfully isolated from low-level liquid radioactive wastes. Their loading capacities towards cerium and cobalt metal ions were inclusivity inspected under variable operational parameters of pH, primary pollutant concentration, interaction time, temperature, stirring speed, and biosorbent dosage. By analyzing the influence of solution pH, concentration, temperature, biosorbent mass, and agitation speed on the biosorption kinetics, the biosorption process confirms pseudo-second-order kinetic, intraparticle diffusion, and Elovich equation. Remarkably, the isolated Microbacterium testaceum exhibited high loading capacities reaching 68.1 mg g(-1), and 49.6 mg g(-1) towards Ce(III), and Co(II) ions, respectively, at the initial concentration of 2.8 mM, pH 4.5, and 25 degrees C. Overall, the isolated bacterial species can potentially be offered up as a promising scavenger for Ce(III) and Co(II) from liquid waste effluents.

Automated summary

This study successfully isolated three bacterial species with potential as multifunctional biosorbents from low-level liquid radioactive wastes. These bacteria exhibited high loading capacities for cerium and cobalt metal ions, making them promising for the removal of toxic heavy metals from liquid waste effluents.