Potential application of Combretum indicum biomass for the efficient biosorption of Ni(II) and Cu(II) from aqueous medium.

The target of this research was to scrutinize a creeper plant, that is, Combretum indicum as a novel, eco-friendly, easily attainable and low cost biosorbent for the targeted metal ions’ removal. Ni(II) and Cu(II) ions were withdrawn from their aqueous solution by using the biosorbent. The said biomass was studied and characterized in detail via multiple analyzing techniques including scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, thermogravimetry, Brunauer– Emmett–Teller surface analysis and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. After the thorough analysis the optimum dosage of C.I. was found to be 0.5 g for both adsorbates. The optimum time of contact for C.I. was 25 min for Cu(II) and 30 min for Ni(II) metal ions. Optimum pH was found to be acidic. The maximum adsorption capacities for Ni(II) and Cu(II) were found to be 27.8 and 12.1 mg/g, respectively. Equilibrium modeling revealed that experimental data fits best in Freundlich’s isotherm for both metals. The thermodynamic research depicted the process as spontaneously occurring and endothermic. The biosorption of the metal ions was in accordance with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]