Abstract
Biomass of reed (Phragmites australis) has demonstrated the favorable potential to be used as a nobel biosorbent for many heavy metals removal from contaminated water. The favorable condition for reed biomass to adsorb Copper, Cadmium, Nickel, Lead and Zinc were found to be in the pH 6.0, 7.0, 6.0, 4.0 and 7.0 respectively. The biosorption of all heavy metals reached equilibrium within 6 h. Alkali-treated reed biomass showed higher in adsorption capacity when compared to acid-treated, washed reed and virgin reed respectively. Adsorption mechanism of heavy metal onto reed biomass was discussed based on scanning electron microscope (SEM), surface area, FT-IR and Zeta potential. In addition, desorption was highly succeeded by using the acid elution of HCl which support the hypothesis that ion-exchange mechanism may take a major part in the adsorption by reed biomass. For the reusability, more than 3 cycles adsorption-desorption process can be achieved. Due to the high elution efficiency, low biomass damage, high regeneration potential and the world-wide availability of reed biomass could be considered reed biomass as an eco-friendly tool to substitute high cost treatment technologies in the future.
