Lead(II) removal from wastewater by water hyacinth

Abstract

Lead(II) contamination is a serious environmental problem. The purpose of this research is to discuss the feasibility of utilizing dead water hyacinth granule to eliminate lead(II) cations from aqueous solution through batch tests. Effects of contact time, medium acidity-alkalinity, and solution lead concentration on this biosorption process were detailedly studied. The experimental result suggested that the lead(II) biosorption depended highly on the medium pH. A pH of 5.0 was most helpful to lead(II) removal. The biosorption data conformed to pseudo-second-order kinetics and the biosorption equilibrium time was equal to 45 minutes. The biosorption isotherm data could be characterized using Langmuir model accompanied with the maximum biosorption capacity of 75.44 mg/g. Our findings revealed that water hyacinth could be an efficient adsorbent for lead(II) elimination.