Kinetics and equilibrium of lanthanum biosorption by free and immobilized microalgal cells

Abstract

This work aimed to study the potential for bioremediation of lanthanum by microalgae Ankistrodesmus sp. and Golenkinia sp., as free cells and immobilized in calcium alginate pellets. To reach that goal, studies have been conducted in batch and in continuous fixed bed column. Kinetic models of pseudo-first order and-second order and equilibrium isotherms of Langmuir and Freundlich were used to predict the metal accumulation behavior by free and immobilized biomass in a batch system. The data were best fit to kinetic model of second order, with coefficients of determination (R 2) greater than 0.98. Free cells were more efficient in the process than alginate pellets and it was not possible to model the results due to the very fast uptake. Equilibrium modelling indicated that both free and immobilized cells, as well as alginate pellets results were best fit to Langmuir equation due to the high R 2 value and similarity with experimental results. Dynamic column tests conducted with Ankistrodesmus sp. and Golenkinia sp. immobilized cells during 8 hours presented 80% efficiency in the removal of the metal, without reaching saturation. The high and fast ability of the microalgae to adsorb lanthanum corroborates their potential large-scale application.

Mining Applications of Immobilized Microbial Cells in an Alginate Matrix: An Overview

“…For example, the use of immobilized cells in bioleaching (Martínez and Parada 2013), heavy metals Khare 2012, Mishra 2013), mercury and rare-earth elements biosorption (Coimbra et al 2017, Corrêa et al 2017, Coimbra et al 2019, acid mine drainage (Long et al 2004), bioremediation (Zommere and Nikolajeva 2017), and H 2 S removal (Chung et al 2010) have all been examined. However, most of these investigations were perfomed at laboratorial level, and applications of immobilized cells in mining activities in the open environment and industrial scale have yet to be realized.…”

Adsorption of La (III) on Chitosan-Imprinted Nano Zero-Valent Iron Nanocomposite (CS@nZVI): Process Optimization, Isotherm, Kinetic, and Thermodynamic Studies

“…In the present study, the van't Hoff equation (Equation 10) is used to investigate adsorption equilibrium constant, then the conventional thermodynamic equation (Equations 11-13) is employed to calculate thermodynamic constants of CS@nZVI (∆Gº, ∆Hº, and ∆Sº) (38). (10) KD = qe Ce In the above equation, q e and C e are related to the quantity of pollutants adsorbed onto the composite surface (mg/g) and the pollutant conc. (mg/L) at equilibrium, respectively.…”

“…unique size, superparamagnetism, and ease of removal from liquid environments with an external magnet) (6). To date, these nanoparticles have been modified with different bioma-terials viz alginate (7), chitosan (8,9), cellulose (1), and biomass (10) to increase their efficiency.…”

Biosorption of lanthanum and samarium by viable and autoclaved mycelium of Botryosphaeria rhodina MAMB‐05

“…In the literature, a number of bacteria, for example, Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Agrobacterium sp., and Arthrobacter sp Chlamydomonas reinharditii , and Ankistrodesmus sp . have been identified for the biosorption and preconcentration of rare‐earth elements.…”

“…However, the biosorption depends upon the protonation or deprotonation of the functional groups on the surface of the microbial cell wall, such as amino, carboxyl, hydroxyl, phosphate, and thiol groups . In this case, the cell wall of fungal species contains large amounts of polysaccharides including chitin, some of which are associated with proteins and other components .…”