Is the process that involves the ability of different types of biomasses, in particular microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, yeasts), to retain the metal ions on the surface of the cell wall, mainly due to the interaction between metal ions and functional groups present on the cell wall.
Published in Chapter:
Mathematical Modeling of Microbial Bioremediation: A Key Step in Process Scale-Up
Mihaela Rosca (Ion Ionescu de la Brad Iasi University of Life Sciences, Romania & Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iasi, Romania),
Petronela Cozma (Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iasi, Romania), and
Maria Gavrilescu (Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iasi, Romania & Academy of Romanian Scientists, Bucharest, Romania)
Copyright: © 2024
|Pages: 35
DOI: 10.4018/979-8-3693-1618-4.ch005
Abstract
Biosorption is a method that holds great promise for environmental bioremediation. However, the process mechanism is not yet fully comprehended as it relies heavily on the characteristics of the biosorbent, properties of the pollutants, and operational conditions. The knowledge and understanding of sorption kinetics and mechanisms are critical for the design and scaling up of biosorption. Applying the proper models and methods in the evaluation of heavy metals biosorption can elucidate mechanisms, analyze experimental data, predict outcomes, and optimize processes. After a brief analysis of the literature in the field of biosorption, it has been found that the most valuable models provide information about process kinetics, maximum biosorption capacity and thermodynamics. Additionally, the preferred methods for studying the interactive effects of process variables and creating a precise mathematical model that describes the process accurately are highly sought after. Thus, the main purpose of the chapter consists in exposing the available mathematical models and methods that can be applied for the evaluation of all factors that could affect the biosorption of heavy metals. The isotherms, kinetic and thermodynamic models, as well as the statistical tools suitable for evaluating biosorption were presented, with a special emphasis on their application, advantages, as well as disadvantages.