Cd(II), Zn(II) and Cu(II) bioadsorption on chemically treated waste brewery yeast biomass: The role of functional groups

• Main Authors: Szende Tonk, Boldizsár Nagy, Anamaria Török, Cerasella Indolean, Cornelia Majdik
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Slovenian Chemical Society 2015-07-01
• Series: Acta Chimica Slovenica
• Subjects: bioadsorption; heavy metals; Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast cells; chemical treatment; SEM and FTIR analysis
• Online Access: https://journals.matheo.si/index.php/ACSi/article/view/1265

The present article studies the role of functional groups from waste brewery yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells in the bioadsorption of Cd2+, Zn2+ and Cu2+ ions. In order to clarify the role played by these functional groups, the brewery yeast was pretreated chemically, thereby helping to determine the mechanisms responsible for binding the target metals. SEM studies were performed to examine the surface microstructure of the adsorbent in pure as well as pretreated forms. The biomass was characterized using FTIR analysis, which indicated that hydroxyl, carboxyl and amid groups are present on the biomass surface. When carboxyl groups were modified by different chemical treatments, the adsorption capacity decreased dramatically, showing that carboxyl groups play a fundamental role in the bioadsorption process. The residual metallic ion concentrations were determined using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Pseudo-first and second order kinetic models were used to describe the bioadsorption process.