Removal of Cu(II) and Zn(II) Using Lignocellulosic Fiber Derived from Citrus reticulata (Kinnow) Waste Biomass

The biosorption of Cu(II) and Zn(II) using dried untreated and pretreated Citrus reticulata waste biomass were evaluated. The Cu(II) and Zn(II) sorption were found to be dependent on the solution pH, the biosorbent dose, the biosorbent particle size, the shaking speed, the temperature, the initial metal ions (800mg/L), and the contact time. Twenty-eight physical and chemical pretreatments of Citrus reticulata waste biomass were evaluated for the sorption of Cu(II) and Zn(II) from aqueous solutions. The results indicated that biomass pretreated with sulphuric acid and EDTA had maximum Cu(II) and Zn(II) uptake capacity of 87.14mg/g and 86.4mg/g respectively. Moreover, the Langmuir isotherm model fitted well than the Freundlich model with R20.95 for both metal ions. The sorption of Cu(II) and Zn(II) occurred rapidly in the first 120min and the equilibrium was reached in 240min. FTIR and SEM studies were also carried out to investigate functional groups present in the biomass and the surface morphological changes of biomass.