Petiolar felt-sheath of palm: a new biosorbent for the removal of heavy metals from contaminated water

Biosorption of heavy metals such as Pb2+, Ni2+, Cd2+, Cu2+, Cr3+ and Zn2- by petiolar felt-sheath of palm (PFP) from contaminated water was examined. PFP was found to efficiently remove all the toxic metal ions with selectivity order of Pb2+ > Cd2+ > Cu2+ > Zn2+ > Ni2+ > Cr3+. The uptake was rapid, with more than 70% completed within 15 min. The bound metal ions were successfully desorbed and the PFP fibrous-biomass remained effective after several adsorption-desorption cycles. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.