Industrial Effluent Remediation Using Aquatic Mosses: An Effective Biosorption Approach

Abstract

Heavy metals in industrial wastewater pose significant environmental and public health threats. This study explored the use of the aquatic moss Fontinalis antipyretica as a natural biosorbent to eliminate cadmium (Cd²⁺) and lead (Pb²⁺) from simulated wastewater. The study assessed the impact of crucial factors such as initial pH, contact time, and metal ion concentration, utilizing a sorbent dose of 2 g L⁻¹. Optimal biosorption occurred at pH levels ranging from 4.0 to 6.0, achieving a maximum uptake capacity of 4.8 mg g⁻¹ for both metals at an initial 10 mg L⁻¹ concentration. At a concentration of 100 mg L⁻¹, the removal efficiency of Pb²⁺ exceeded 78%, demonstrating a stronger affinity for Pb. Among the kinetic models tested, the pseudo-second-order model best fit the experimental data (R² = 0.999), indicating that chemisorption was a key mechanism in the process. These results highlight the potential of Fontinalis antipyretica as an effective, cost-efficient, and environment-friendly method for treating metal-laden industrial effluents.