Removal of heavy metals from contaminated water by petiolar felt-sheath of palm.

The ability of a reticulated fibrous network of palm petiolar felt-sheath (PPF) to remove toxic metals such as Cd, Cu and Zn from contaminated water was investigated as a new biosorbent system. PPF was found to sequester metal ions efficiently from dilute aqueous solutions with a selectivity order of Cd > Cu > Zn. The extent of adsorption was found to be dependent on pH, metal ion concentration and amount of biosorbent. The metal uptake was completed in a short time and contact of 30 min was observed to be optimum. The adsorption of all the three metals followed Langmuir isotherm. The bound metal ions were successfully desorbed and the PPF fibrous-biomass remained effective during five adsorption-desorption cycles. Present studies suggest that PPF has potential to be used in the removal/recovery of heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions.