Activated sludge microorganisms can remove many hazardous substances from wastewater by adsorbing and concentrating them on their surfaces. Biosorption of these substances onto activated sludge surfaces are influenced by the chemical properties of the substance in question as well as the surface properties of the microorganisms. The purpose of this study is to identify the biosorption mechanisms of heavy metals and the effect of extracellular polymer (ECP) composition of activated sludge on the biosorption of Pb(II), Cd(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) and Ni(II). Microorganisms cultured under different growth conditions are expected to have different compositions of ECPs and hence, different biosorption capacities. For this purpose, three sets of reactors with C/N ratios of 9, representing a carbonlimited case / 21, representing conventional municipal wastewater treatment plant activated sludge and 43, representing nitrogen-limited condition, were set up. The semi continuous reactors were fed synthetically and operated at a sludge age of 8 days. Isotherm and kinetic experiments that were held with three different C/N ratios was indicated that the biosorptive capacity of activated sludge was highly dependent on metal species and the C/N ratio. Although, the dependence of biosorptive capacity on C/N ratio was different for each metal, biosorption properties of activated sludge were found to be directly related with ECP composition. Among the heavy metals tested, Pb(II) was the one that was adsorbed at the highest capacity at all C/N ratios. Also, with the purpose of understanding the mechanism of the process, Ca(II) and Mg(II) ions and carbohydrates released into the solution were also monitored and it was indicated that an ion exchange process is involved in the biosorption of heavy metals especially at high metal concentrations but the whole metal removal can not be explained by ion exchange.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T18:08:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Gustavo H F dos Santos.pdf: 2924329 bytes, checksum: 74a03389110637af2cd08afee90b23ec (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-02-16 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The main objective of this study was to evaluate the types of biosorption mechanisms involved in the removal of copper, zinc and cadmium divalent ions by dead Egeria densa macrophyte biomass. Batch adsorption experiments, consisting of mixtures of 0.3 g biomass and 50 mL metal solution were performed at initial pH 5, and under constant temperature (50 oC) and shaking conditions. The PIXE analytical technique was applied to determine the metal concentration in aqueous and solid phases. All PIXE measurements were performed at the Ion Beam-based Material Analysis Laboratory of the Physics Institute of the São Paulo University. Preliminary to adsorption experiments, the point of zero charge assigned to E. densa biosorbent was determined to be at a 5.0-6.5 pH value range. From metal speciation diagrams, the Cu, Zn, Cd and Ca divalent ions are expected to be majorities below the pH values of 5, 6, 8, and 10, respectively, whereas above these pH regions other metal compounds are mainly expected. As confirmed by measured pH values of 5.0 ± 0.2 at all experiments of adsorption and desorption, E. densa biosorbent submerged in each metal solution has exhibited zero net electrical charge on its surface, indicating that the removals of Cu²+, Zn²+, and Cd²+ and the desorption of these metal ions should be mainly performed by the ion exchange mechanism. According to the mass balance analysis performed for each metal adsorption experiment, the ion exchange process was confirmed to be the main mechanism for the metal removal and desorption by the E. densa biosorbent. At pH value of 5 the E. densa biosorbent surface shows a behavior of ion exchanger. / O objetivo principal deste trabalho foi avaliar os mecanismos de biossorção envolvidos na remoção dos íons cobre, zinco e cádmio pela macrófita aquática Egeria densa inativa. Experimentos de sorção monocomponente foram realizados em sistema batelada, misturando 0,3 g do biossorvente com 50 mL de solução metálica, com pH inicial 5,0, sob agitação constante e temperatura controlada em 30°C, em uma incubadora refrigerada com agitação. A determinação da concentração das espécies iônicas nas fases líquida e sólida foi realizada pela técnica espectroscópica PIXE (Particle Induced X-ray Emission). As medidas foram realizadas no Laboratório de Análise de Materiais por Feixes Iônicos do Instituto de Física da USP. Foram realizados experimentos para determinação do ponto de carga zero (pHPCZ) da biomassa e elaborados diagramas de especiação dos metais. O pHPCZ da macrófita Egeria densa foi encontrado na faixa entre 5,0 a 6,5. Por meio de diagramas de especiação, observou-se que as formas iônicas Cu²+, Zn²+, Cd²+ e Ca²+ são predominantes nas faixas de pH entre 0 - 5,0; 0 - 5,0; 0 - 8,0 e 0 - 10,0, respectivamente. O pH final medido em todos experimentos de biossorção e de regeneração da biomassa, foi em média de 5,0 ± 0,2. Desta forma, nos experimentos de sorção, os íons cobre, zinco, cádmio e cálcio encontravam-se na forma divalente. Nas condições operacionais utilizadas, a biossorção dos íons metálicos cobre, cádmio e zinco, pela macrófita Egeria densa, em pH inicial 5,0, ocorreu principalmente pelo mecanismo de troca iônica, com os cátions cálcio, sódio e potássio. Na regeneração da macrófita utilizando solução de CaCl2, também foi verificado que o mecanismo envolvido neste processo foi de troca iônica. O processo de dessorção dos íons metálicos ocorreu, devido ao comportamento da biomassa ser equivalente a de um trocador iônico.