Yellow passion-fruit shell as biosorbent to remove Cr(III) and Pb(II) from aqueous solution

In the present study we reported by the first time the feasibility of yellow passion-fruit shell (YPFS- Passiflora edulis Sims. f. flavicarpa Degener) as an alternative biosorbent to remove Cr(III) and Pb(II) metallic ions from aqueous solutions. The ability of YPFS to remove Cr(III) and Pb(II) was investigated by using batch biosorption procedure. The effects such as contact time and pH on the biosorption capacities were studied. The biosorption kinetics followed the pseudo second-order kinetic model, obtaining the following biosorption constant rates, 1.48 x 10(-2) and 4.70 x 10(-3) g mg(-1) min(-1) using a 5.0 mg l(-1) metallic ion solution, for Cr(III) and Pb(II), respectively. The maximum biosorption capacity of YPFS were 85.1 and 151.6 mg g(-1) for Cr(III) and Pb(II), respectively. This high biosorption capacity of YPFS places this biosorbent as one of the best biosorbents for removal or Cr(III) and Pb(II) from aqueous effluents. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.