Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Azadirachata indicum (Neem): An Effective Biosorbent for the Removal of Lead (II) from Aqueous Solutions

  • Published:
Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Laboratory batch experiments with Azadirachata indicum indicated that this population had an excellent ability to bind lead (II) from its aqueous solution. The experiments carried out examined pH, biomass quantity, time of contact, and temperature dependency. Under optimum conditions, the removal of lead (II) was found to be around 95%. Column experiments were performed to examine the binding of lead (II) to silica-immobilized biomass under flow conditions. During this, a slight decrease in the pH of the effluents was also observed, implying an ion-exchange mechanism for metal binding.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aksu Z, Kutsal T (1990) A comparative study for biosorption characterization of heavy metal ions with C. vulgaris, Environ Technol 11:979–987

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Asheh S, Duvnjak Z (1999) Sorption of heavy metals from synthetic metal solutions and industrial wastewater using plant materials. Wat Qual Res J Can 34:481–503

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ashly NV, Roach DJW (1990) Review of biotechnology application to nuclear waste treatment. J Chem Technol Biotechnol 49:381–394

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baird C (1995) Environmental Chemistry 2nd Ed. WH Freeman, NY

    Google Scholar 

  • Bakkaloglu I, Butter LM, Holland FS, Hancock IC (1998) Screening of various types biomass for removal and recovery of heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Ni) by biosorption, sedimentation and desorption. Wat Sci Technol 38:269–277

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bakshi Guha DN, Senserma P, Pal DC (1999) A lexicone of medicinal plants in India Vol. 1 221

  • Bossrez S, Renacle J, Coyette J (1997) Adsorption of nickel on Enterococcus hirae cell walls. J Chem Technol Biotechnol 70:45–50

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brierley CL (1991) Bioremediation of metal-contaminated surface and ground-waters. Geomicrobiology 8:201–223

    Google Scholar 

  • Corder SL, Reeves M (1994) Biosorption of nickel in complex aqueous waste streams by cyanobacteria. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 45–46:847–859

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ehrlich HL (1994) Biotechnology for the treatment of hazardous waste, (D.L. Stoener, ed.). Lewis, Boca Raton-Ann Arbor-London-Tokyo

  • Fayuan W, Xiangui L, Rui Y (2005) Heavy metal uptake by arbuscular mycorrhizas of Elsholtzia splendens and the potential for phytoremediation of contaminated soil. Plant Soil 269:225–232

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Francis AJ (1990) Microbial dissolution and stabilization of toxic metals and radionuclides in mixed wastes. Experientia 46:840–851

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gardea-Torresdey JL, Tiemann KJ, Gonzalez JH, Henning JA, Townsend MS (1996) Ability of medicago sative (alfalfa) to remove nickel ions from aqueous solution. J Haz Mat 48:181–190

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Geddie JL, Sutherland IW (1993) Uptake of metals by bacterial polysaccharides. J App Bacteriol 74:467–472

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Horsfall MJ, Abia AA, Spiff AI (2003) Removal of Cu (II) and Zn (II) ions from wastewater by Cassava (Manihot esculenta Cranz) waste biomass. Afric J Biotechnol 2:360–364

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hunt S, In Eccles H, Hunt S (Eds) (1986) Immobilization of ions by biosorption, Ellis Horwood, Chichester, England

    Google Scholar 

  • Iqbal M, Saeed A, Akhtar N (2002) Petiolar felt-sheath of palm: a new biosorbent for the removal of heavy metals from contaminated water. Biores Technol 81:151–153

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ke HD, Rayson GD (1993) Luminescence study of UO 2+2 binding to immobilized Datura innoxia Biomaterial. App Spect 47:44–51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mullen MD, Wolf DC, Ferrisv FC, Beveridge TJ, Fleming CA, Bailey FW (1989) Bacterial sorption of heavy metals. Appl Environ Microbiol 55:3143–3149

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Puranik PR, Pakniker KM (1999) Biosorption of lead, cadmium and zinc by Citrobucker strain MCM B-181: characterizations studies. Biotechnol Progress 15:228–237

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Segal IH (1976) Biological calculations, 2nd edition, Wiley, NY

    Google Scholar 

  • Seki H, Suzuki A (1998) Biosorption of heavy metal ions to brown algae, Macrocystis pyrifera, Kjellmaniella crassiforia and Undaria pinnatifida. J Colloid Interface Sci 206:297–301

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Simine DD, Finoli C, Vecchio A, Andreoni V (1998) Metal ion accumulation by immobilised cells of Brevibacterium sp. JInd Microbiol Biotechnol 20:116–120

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vijayraghavan K, Jegan J, Palanivelu K, Velan M (2005) Biosorption of cobalt (II) and nickel (II) by seaweeds: batch and column studies. Sep Purific Technol 44:53–59

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Volesky B (1990) Biosorption of heavy metals. CRC Press Boston, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Volesky B (1994) Advances in biosorption of metal: selection of biomass types. FEMS Microbiol Rev 14:291–302

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang J (2002) Biosorption of copper (II) by chemically modified biomass of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Proc Biochem 37:847–850

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yu Q, Kaewsarn P, (1999) Binary adsorption of copper (II) and cadmium (II) from aqueous solutions by biomass of marine alga Durvillaea potatorum. Sep Sci Technol 34:1595–1605

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Chemistry, University of The Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

    Makshoof Athar

  2. Department of Chemistry, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Pakistan

    Umar Farooq & Baqir Hussain

Authors
  1. Makshoof Athar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Umar Farooq
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Baqir Hussain
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Makshoof Athar.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Athar, M., Farooq, U. & Hussain, B. Azadirachata indicum (Neem): An Effective Biosorbent for the Removal of Lead (II) from Aqueous Solutions. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 79, 288–292 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-007-9217-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-007-9217-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation