REMOVAL OF CHROMIUM(III), COPPER(II), LEAD(II) AND ZINC(II) USING Lemna minor L.

This paper presents the results of individual removal rates of Cr(III), Cu(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) from aqueous solutions via biosorption using non-living Lemna minor L., which were determined to be optimal at pHs 4 (32%), 3 (66.8%), 8 (96.6%) and 9 (74%), respectively. Maximum adsorption capacity of L. minor was observed at lower concentrations (20, 30 40 mg L-1). The best removal rates obtained by L. minor were 62.5% for Cr at 20 mg L-1, 69.12% for Cu at 20 mg L-1, 94.19% for Pb at 60 mg L-1, and 42.36% for Zn at 30 mg L-1. Significantly high correlation coefficients for the Langmuir adsorption isotherm models indicated that they can be used to describe the equilibrium behaviour of chromium, copper, lead and zinc adsorption using L. minor.