Equilibrium, Thermodynamic and Kinetic Studies on Biosorption of Mercury from Aqueous Solution by Macrofungus (Lycoperdon perlatum) Biomass

The present research is to investigate the possibility of macrofungus Lycoperdon perlatum biomass, which is an easily available, renewable plant, low-cost, as a new biomass for the removal of mercury (Hg(II)) ions from aqueous solutions. The effects of various parameters like pH of solution, biomass concentration, contact time, and temperature were studied by the using the batch method. The Langmuir model adequately described the equilibrium data. The biosorption capacity of the biomass was found to be 107.4 mg · g ^-1 at pH 6. The mean free energy value (10.9 kJ · mol ^-1) obtained from the D-R model indicated that the biosorption of Hg(II) onto fungal biomass was taken place via chemical ion-exchange. Thermodynamic parameters showed that the biosorption of Hg(II) onto L. perlatum biomass was feasible, spontaneous, and exothermic in nature. The kinetic results showed that the biosorption of Hg(II) onto fungal biomass followed second-order kinetics. This work also shows that L. perlatum biomass can be an alternative to the expensive materials like ion exchange resins and activated carbon for the treatment of water and wastewater containing mercury ions due to its ability of selectivity and higher biosorption capacity and also being low cost material.