Biosorption of neodymium (nd) from aqueous solutions using Spirulina platensis sp. strains

Rare earth elements such as neodymium (Nd) are important elements used mainly in developing new technologies. Although they are found in low concentrations in nature, they can be obtained by extracting solid samples such as phosphogypsum. Among the techniques, adsorption has been used successfully w...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Lima, Eder Claudio, Pinto, Diana, Schadeck Netto, Matias, Simoes dos Reis, Glaydson, Silva Oliveira, Luis Felipe, Dotto, Guilherme Luiz
Format: article
Status:Published version
Publication Date:2022
Country:Colombia
Institution:Corporación Universidad de la Costa
Repository:Repositorio REDICUC
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:repositorio.cuc.edu.co:11323/10925
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/11323/10925
https://repositorio.cuc.edu.co/
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Biomass
Spirulina
Rare earth elements
Kinetics
Isotherms
Description
Summary:Rare earth elements such as neodymium (Nd) are important elements used mainly in developing new technologies. Although they are found in low concentrations in nature, they can be obtained by extracting solid samples such as phosphogypsum. Among the techniques, adsorption has been used successfully with several adsorbent materials. In this work, two strains of Spirulina platensis (LEB-18 and LEB-52) were employed as biosorbents for efficiently removing the Nd element from the aqueous media. Biosorption tests were carried out in a batch system, and the results of the biosorption kinetics showed that for both materials, the biosorption of Nd was better described by the Avrami model. Moreover, it could be considered that 80 min would be necessary to attain the equilibrium of Nd(III) using both biosorbents. The result of the biosorption isotherms showed that for both strains, the best-fitted model was the Liu model, having a maximum biosorption capacity of 72.5 mg g−1 for LEB-18 and 48.2 mg g−1 for LEB-52 at a temperature of 298 K. Thermodynamics of adsorption showed that for both LEB-18 and LEB-52 the process was favorable (∆G° < 0) and exothermic (∆H° −23.2 for LEB-18 and ∆H° −19.9 for LEB-52). Finally, both strains were suitable to uptake Nd, and the better result of LEB-18 could be attributed to the high amount of P and S groups in this biomass. Based on the results, a mechanism of electrostatic attraction of Nd3+ and phosphate and sulfate groups of both strains of Spirulina platensis was proposed.