Bio-accumulation of arsenic (III) using Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn

Abstract

Background. High arsenic levels in potable water are a threat to public health in India. About 85% of the water in India's rural areas comes from groundwater and roughly 27 million people are at risk of arsenic (As) contamination. Objectives. The present study was performed to examine the feasibility of providing an effective and affordable means for arsenic abatement in socio-economically poor and rural areas in India. This is the first report on the effectiveness of powder Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn (lotus) root biomass for As (III) eradication from aqueous solution. Methods. Batch experiments were conducted to determine the effects of various operating parameters, including pH, initial As (III) ion concentration, adsorbent dosages, and contact time for As (III) sorption onto lotus root. Discussion. The sorption efficiency of lotus root biomass for As (III) at pH 7 was found to be quantitative (96%) from 50 mg/L aqueous solution at a dose of 5gL-1. Capacity of the biosorbent for As (III) ion adsorption and the interaction between adsorbate with biosorbents were studied using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. In the present study, the equilibrium parameter values ranged between 0 and 1, indicating that the adsorption of the As (III) ion onto lotus root biomass was favorable. Conclusions. Lotus root powder biomass was found to be an effective adsorbent for As (III) and could be used as an efficient, cost-effective and environmentally safe biosorbent for the sorption of arsenic from aqueous solutions.