International Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology

ISSN 2169-3048

International Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology ISSN 2169-3048 Vol. 9 (3), pp. 001-003, March, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Short Communication

Biosorption of zinc (II) by Rhizopus arrhizusequilibrium and kinetic modelling

B. Preetha* and T. Viruthagiri

Department of Technology, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar- 608 002.Tamil Nadu, India.

Accepted 10 May, 2019

Abstract

The adsorption of zinc (II) ions on Rhizopus arrhizus, a filamentous fungus, was investigated in a batch reactor. Batch adsorption studies were carried out by varying biomass loading. A contact time of 120 min was required to reach equilibrium. Specific zinc (II) uptake decreased with increase in biomass loading and these results were analyzed in light of the Lagergren equation and the process followed a second order rate kinetics. The equilibrium data were analyzed using the Langmuir, Freundlich, Redlich- Peterson and BET adsorption isotherms. The characteristic parameters for each isotherm were determined. All the isotherms provided the best correlation for zinc (II) onto the R. arrhizus.

Key words: Zinc, biosorption, Rhizopus arrhizus, kinetic models, adsorption isotherms.