A methodological approach to investigate an effect of heavy metal speciation on biosorption process using biomass and universal buffer: thermodynamic database creation and modeling

Abstract

Biosorption is a mechanism related to ability of biomass cell walls to remove heavy metals from surrounding. Considering physico-chemical interactions with active groups present on the cell wall, biosorption is affected by several chemical and physical factors in the presence of heavy metals as well as kind of biosorbent material. Equilibrium model is the first step in the development of kinetic models to be applied in experimental operations. In this study an importance of database creation and methodological approach to modeling of speciation and sorption of Ni(II) and Cr(IV) in a presence of chitosan in universal buffer media during biosorption processes has been proposed and discussed. The distribution coefficients were established using common aqueous geochemical modeling program with updated database.