Studies of Sorbent Efficiencies of Maize Parts in Fe(II) Removal from Aqueous Solutions

Abstract

The efficiency of the cob, sheath, seed chaff and stalk of maize plant in the removal of Fe(II) from aqueous solutions was studied. FTIR analysis of biomass surfaces before and after adsorption showed that seed chaff has the highest number of functional group coordination points. The percentage removal of Fe(II) increased with increase in pH for all the biomass parts with highest efficiency shown by the seed chaff at all the studied pH values. Metal up-take also increased with increase in seed chaff load. This direct relationship was however not shown by other parts where decreases in metal up-take were observed at high doses of the biomass. At optimum pH and biomass load, equilibrium adsorption capacities were reached in 30 minutes for all the parts. The efficiency of the biomass parts in the sorption process were in the order seed chaff>stalk>sheath>cob. At optimum conditions of the study, the seed chaff removed 73 % of Fe(II) from solution in its natural state.