Kinetic and equilibrium models for the biosorption of Cr(III) on Streptomyces rimosus

This study focused on the biosorption of trivalent chromium onto mycelial bacterium (Streptomyces rimosus) biomass from effluent of tannery. The biomass was prepared by treatment with alkali. Fourier transforms-infra red analysis of the mycelial bacterial revealed the presence of carboxyl groups as possible binding sites. Experimental parameters affecting biosorption processes such as pH contact time were studied. Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin models were applied to describe the biosorption isotherms. The Langmuir model fitted the equilibrium data better than the Freundlich isotherm. The biosorption capacity of S. rimosus biomass for trivalent chromium was found to be 83 mg g-1 at pH 4.8 and 3 g L-1 biomass dosage, 300 min equilibrium time and 20°C. Kinetic evaluation of experimental data showed that the biosorption processes of trivalent chromium followed pseudo-second-order kinetics well.