{"id":116307,"date":"2023-01-30T20:12:28","date_gmt":"2023-01-31T01:12:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/savethewater.org\/?p=116307"},"modified":"2023-01-30T20:12:28","modified_gmt":"2023-01-31T01:12:28","slug":"microorganisms-bio-sorbents-for-metal-ions-removal-from-wastewater","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/savethewater.org\/microorganisms-bio-sorbents-for-metal-ions-removal-from-wastewater\/","title":{"rendered":"Microorganisms: Bio Sorbents for Metal Ions Removal from Wastewater"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Sakshi Kabra Malpani, <\/span>Publishing Associate: Researcher and Writer <\/span>at Save the Water\u2122 | January 30, 2023<\/span><\/p>\n

Increasing city culture, industries, use of electronic equipment, and many more processes have introduced <\/span>heavy metal ions<\/span><\/a> like lead, arsenic, iron, cadmium, nickel into our lives, surroundings, and as well as in our water bodies. Such heavy metal ions can cause different <\/span>deadly diseases like cancer, cardiovascular and neurological disorders, kidney failure, hypertension, and miscarriages. <\/span><\/a>Nowadays, microorganisms based bio sorbents are being used for removing heavy metal ions from wastewater.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Are Bio Sorbents?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Basically, bio sorbents<\/a><\/span> are biological materials that are used to remove pollutants from water. They remove pollutants through a chemical and physical process by which one substance attaches to another called sorption. <\/span>Microorganisms like cells of algae, fungi, yeast, and bacteria are chief bio sorbents<\/a><\/span> for wastewater treatment. <\/span>However, some seaweeds, fruit peels, industrial and agricultural wastes like coffee husk, and pine waste<\/span><\/a> are other examples of bio sorbents. They are chiefly used to remove<\/span> toxic dyes and heavy metal ions from wastewater<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

How Can Microorganisms Based Bio Sorbents Be Made?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Microorganisms (<\/span>Aspergillus <\/span><\/i>niger<\/span><\/a>, <\/span><\/i>Saccharomyces <\/span><\/i>cerevisiae<\/span><\/a>) are isolated and cultured in laboratory conditions. Thereafter, the microorganisms are filtered, washed, dried, and ground to form powder. Afterwards, this powder is stored in an air-tight container until its use in metal ions removal from wastewater. Additionally, <\/span>the surface of bio sorbents powder is treated with specific chemicals like hydrogen peroxide<\/span><\/a> to enhance their sorption capacities.<\/span><\/p>\n

How Do Bio Sorbents Work?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Biosorption is a physicochemical process which takes place on the surface of bio sorbents. Some active groups like <\/span>carboxyl, amino, hydroxyl, and sulfate on the surface of the bio sorbents interact with the heavy metal ions<\/span><\/a>. The heavy metal ions bind with these active groups and get removed from wastewater. Overall efficiency of this process depends on several factors. Here are a few:<\/span><\/p>\n