Potentials of some Waste Biomaterials as Sorbents for Gold- and Silver-Cyanide Removal from Aqueous Matrices

Abstract:

Plating, printed circuit board, jewellery units, photofinishing and mining industries emanate large-volume low-tenor effluents containing metal-cyanide (M_xCN) like gold-and silver-cyanide. Since metal moiety of M_xCN being precious, non-renewable and finite resource; their complete removal from effluents is the key. Biosorption has immense potential of becoming efficient and economical alternative to recover the wasted metal resource over conventional methods. Twenty-eight low-cost biomaterials obtained from diverse sources were screened for gold-and silver-cyanide uptake. Study revealed that maximum uptake of both M_xCN took place at acidic pH. Based on maximum uptake, Rice Husk (RH) and Eicchornia root (ER) biomass were selected for gold-and silver-cyanide sorption, respectively, for further studies. Optimal conditions for sorption were: pH (4.0-7.0), biosorbent quantity (1-3%), rate of uptake (40 min) and initial M_xCN concentration (5-500 μmol). Biosorption data obtained conformed to Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption models (R²>0.98). NaOH acted as an efficient desorbing agent (>95%).

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 1130)
• Pages: 627-630
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.1130.627
• Online since: November 2015
• Authors: Yogesh Patil*, Shivanand Gaddi, Rajiv Hunashal
• Keywords: Biosorption, Eicchornia Root Biomass, Gold-Cyanide, Rice Husk, Silver-Cyanide

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