Hg (II) Biosorption on Xanthoceras sorbifolia Testae

Xanthoceras sorbifolia testae, an residue of bioenergy production, were investigated as a novel biosorbent for the Hg (II) removal from aqueous solution. A series of experiments were conducted in a batch system to assess the effect of initial pH and biosorbent dose on the biosorption performance. The suitability of the pseudofirstorder, the pseudosecondorder and the intraparticle diffusion models to the kinetic data were investigated, and the equilibrium data were fitted with the Langmuir and the Freundlich isotherms. The results showed that optimal pH values for the biosorption ranged from 4 to 6. It took a longer time to get sorptive equilibrium at a higher initial Hg (II) concentration. The kinetic data followed the pseudosecondorder kinetic equation. Intraparticle diffusion is not the sole ratecontrolling factor. The equilibrium data conformed the Langmuir isotherm, and the sorption capacity was 03051mmol/g. Using Xanthoceras sorbifolia testae to sorb Hg (II) from the wastewater is a means of controlling the waste with the residue, which have some prospects in practice.