Biosorption of cr (VI) from aqueous solutions by dead biomass of pleurotus mutilus in torus reactor

Abstract

The removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions by a Pleurotus mutilus macrofungal biomass was investigated in a torus reactor. The reactor experiments were performed in laboratory with biomass concentration of 2 g/l and particle size ranging between 160 and 200 µm. The effect of pH and initial concentration of hexavalent chromium on biosorption assays were determined after 3 h of treatment. The optimum conditions are: pH = 5.4 and initial concentration of Cr(VI) equal to 100 mg/l. This first application of a torus reactor in biosorption phenomena demonstrates interesting results. Indeed, a biosorption capacity of 29.46 mg/g was reached. Applying the Langumir and Freundlich isotherm modelling, the equilibrium data are fitted best by Langumir isotherm equation.