Salacca zalacca skin and its modified form as biosorbents for Hg2+ removal from aqueous solution

Abstract

A chemically modified-biosorbent was prepared by attaching dithizone onto Salacca zalacca skin waste for Hg2+ bioremoval. The material was synthesized by refluxing dithizone 5% with the Salacca zalacca skin powder followed by drying. The material was characterized through scanning electron microscopy, gas sorption analysis, and Boehm titration. The applicability of the material as biosorbent was tested for Hg2+ adsorption at room temperature. Findings suggested that the modification altered the surface properties of the biosorbent as indicated by the increased values for such surface parameters as specific surface area, pore volume, and quantitative functional groups. Particularly, the material demonstrated a high removal efficiency during Hg2+ adsorption, which fit the pseudo-second-order kinetics. The removal efficiency of Hg2+ was not influenced by the adsorbent dosage of 1–4 g/L.