Biosorption of zinc from effluent of rubber product manufacturing

Mohn. Nor Zairossani

Biosorption of zinc from effluent of rubber product manufacturing - Journal of Rubber Research 1998 - 167-178

Zinc removal from effluent of rubber product manufacturing through biosorption by four microbial species(Zoogloea ramigera, Aerobacter aerogenes, floc-forming bacteria and floc-forming yeast) was studied. Growth kinetics and expolymer production by the species cultured on synthetic media were obtained. Studies conducted using rubber effluent with initial zinc concntration of 29 mg/L showed that the initial zinc uptake rates and equilibrium adsorption capacities achieved by the microorganisms ranged from 18.3 to 42.3 mg Zn/g biomass min and 88 to 206 mg Zn/g biomass, respectively. A aerogenes gave the highest initial zinc uptake rate and equilibrium adsorption capacity, followed by the floc-forming yeast. Further investigation on the floc-forming yeast showed that the optimum pH for zinc adsorption by the species was 6.5.