Abstract
In this work, Opuntia fuliginosa and Agave angustifolia fibers were used as an alternative for the removal of heavy metals from water, through a biosorption process. Both species of plant are widely available in Mexico, particularly A. angustifolia as waste material from the production of tequila. First, both fibers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. The scanning electron microscopy analysis showed structural differences between both fibers; the main chemical elements are carbon and oxygen, in addition to other elements, which allows the existence of functional groups such as hydroxyl, carboxyl, and carbonyl, among others. Subsequently, to test the fibers capacity for the removal of heavy metals from water, batch adsorption experiments were carried out with different particle sizes. O. fuliginosa fibers, with a particle size of 0.572 mm, removed 93% of Pb, followed by Cr, Fe, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Mn. However, for other particle sizes, it was possible to remove up to 90% of the Pb, followed by Cd, Cr, and Zn. In general, lead was adsorbed in a larger proportion compared to all metals studied, regardless of fiber size. In the same way, A. angustifolia fiber efficiently adsorbs Pb, regardless of the particle size, since it also removes up to 90%. According to the Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms analysis, O. fuliginosa adsorbs heavy metals in the form of multilayer, while A. angustifolia absorbs them through both mechanisms, as monolayer and multilayer.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Acharya J, Kumar U, Rafi PM (2018) Removal of heavy metal ions from wastewater by chemically modified agricultural waste material as potential adsorbent-a review. Int J Current Eng Technol 8:526–530. https://doi.org/10.14741/ijcet/v.8.3.6
Aharonov-Nadborny R, Tsechansky L, Raviv M, Graber ER (2017) Impacts of spreading olive mill waste water on agricultural soils for leaching of metal micronutrients and cations. Chemosphere 179:213–221. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.03.093
Akram M, Khan B, Imran M, Ahmad I, Ajaz H, Tahir M, Samad Shah N (2019) Biosorption of lead by cotton shells powder: characterization and equilibrium modeling study. Int J Phyto 21:138–144. https://doi.org/10.1080/15226514.2018.1488810
Alfarra RS, Ali NE, Yusoff MM (2014) Removal of heavy metals by natural adsorbent. Int J Biosci 4:130–139. https://doi.org/10.12692/ijb/4.7.130-139
Al-Ghouti MA and Dib SS (2020) Utilization of nano-olive stones in environmental remediation of methylene blue from water. J. Environ. Health Sci. Eng 1–15
Ali H, Khan E (2018) Trophic transfer, bioaccumulation, and biomagnification of non-essential hazardous heavy metals and metalloids in food chains/webs—Concepts and implications for wildlife and human health. Human Ecol Risk Assess Int J. https://doi.org/10.1080/10807039.2018.1469398
Ali RM, Hamad HA, Hussein MM, Malash GF (2016) Potential of using green adsorbent of heavy metal removal from aqueous solutions: adsorption kinetics, isotherm, thermodynamic, mechanism and economic analysis. Ecol Eng 91:317–332. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2016.03.015
Barka N, Abdennouri M, El Makhfouk M, Qourzal S (2013) Biosorption characteristics of cadmium and lead onto eco-friendly dried cactus (Opuntia ficus indica) cladodes. J Environ Chem Eng 1:144–149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2013.04.008
Barrera H, Ureña-Núñez F, Bilyeu B, Barrera-Díaz C (2006) Removal of chromium and toxic ions present in mine drainage by Ectodermis of Opuntia. J Hazard Mat 236(3):846–853. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2006.01.021
Blázquez García G, Calero de Hoces M, Martínez García C, Cotes Palomino MT, Ronda Gálvez A, Martín-Lara MA (2014) Characterization and modeling of pyrolysis of the two-phase olive mil solid Waste. Fuel Process Technol 126:104–111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuproc.2014.04.020
Chen H, Liu N, Qu X, Joshee N, Liu S (2018) The effect of hot water pretreatment on the heavy metal adsorption capacity of acid insoluble lignin from Paulownia elongata. J Chem Technol Biotech 93:1105–1112. https://doi.org/10.1002/jctb.5469
Cholico- González D, Ortiz N, Fernández AM, Chavez J (2020) Adsorption behavior of Pb(II), Cd(II), and Zn(II) onto Agave bagasse, characterization, and mechanism. ACS Omega. 5:3302–3314. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.9b03385
Cukierman AL (2007) Metal ion biosorption potential of lignocellulosic biomasses and marine algae for wastewater treatment. Adsorpt Sci Technol 25(3–4):227–244. https://doi.org/10.1260/026361707782398182
Dos-Santos WN, Cavalcante DD, Da-Silva EGP, Das-Virgens CF, De-Souza F (2011) Biosorption of Pb(II) and Cd (II) ions by Agave sisalana (sisal fiber). Microchem J 97:269–273. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.microc.2010.09.014
Fernández-López JA, Angosto JM, Avilés M (2014) Biosorption of hexavalent chromium from aqueous medium with Opuntia biomass. Sci World J 2014:670249. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/670249
Fernández-López JA, Angosto JM, Roca MJ, Doval M (2019) Taguchi design-based enhancement of heavy metals bioremoval by agroindustrial waste biomass from artichoke. Sci Total Environ 653:55–63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.10.343
Florea AM, Busselberg D (2006) Occurrence, use and potential toxic effects of metals and metal compounds. Biometals 19:419–427. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10534-005-4451-x
Flores-Trujillo AKI (2016). Remoción de metales pesados del agua a través de procesos de biosorción. Master Degree Dissertation, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, México
Fomina M, Gadd GM (2014) Biosorption: current perspectives on concept, definition and application. Bioresour Technol 160:3–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2013.12.102
Freundlich HMF (1906) Over the adsorption in solution. Z Phys Chem 57:385–470
García-Reyes RB, Rangel-Mendez JR (2010) Adsorption kinetics of chromium (III) ions on agro-waste materials. Bioresour Technol 101:8099–8108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2010.06.020
Gupta VG, Nayak A, Agarwal S (2015) Bioadsorbents for remediation of heavy metals: current status and their future prospects. Environ Eng Res 20:1–18. https://doi.org/10.4491/eer.2015.018
Gupta S, Sharma SK, Kumar A (2019) Biosorption of Ni (II) ions from aqueous solution using modified Aloe barbadensis Miller leaf poder. Water Sci Eng 12:27–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wse.2019.04.003
Hamidpour M, Hosseini N, Mozafari V, Rafsanjai MH (2018) Removal of Cd (II) and Pb(II) from aqueous solutions by pistachio hull waste. Rev Int Cont Amb 34:307–316. https://doi.org/10.20937/RICA.2018.34.02.11
Hamissa AMB, Lodi A, Seffen M, Finocchio E, Botter R, Converti A (2010) Sorption of Cd (II) and Pb(II) from aqueous solution onto Agave americana fibers. Chem Eng J 159:67–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2010.02.036
Han J, Li W, Liu D, Qin L, Chen W, Xing F (2018) Pyrolysis characteristic and mechanism of waste tyre: a thermogravimetry-mass spectrometry analysis. J Anal Appl Pyrol 129:1–5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaap.2017.12.016
Hidalgo-Cordero JF, Revilla E, García-Navarro J (2018) Comparative chemical analysis of the Rind and Pith of Totora (Schoenoplectus californicus) Stems. J Nat Fibers. https://doi.org/10.1080/15440478.2018.1541773
Hidalgo-Reyes M, Caballero-Caballero M, Hernández-Gómez LH, Urriolagoitia-Calderón G (2015) Chemical and morphological characterization of Agave angustifolia bagasse fibers. Bot Sci 93:807–817. https://doi.org/10.17129/botsci.250
Iñiguez-Covarrubias G, Díaz-Teres R, Sanjuan-Dueñas R, Anzaldo-Hernández J, Rowell RM (2001) Utilization of by-products from the tequila industry. Part 2: potential value of Agave tequilana Weber azul leaves. Bioresour Technol 77:101–108. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0960-8524(00)00167-X
Jain CK, Malik DS, Yadav AK (2016) Applicability of plant based biosorbents in the removal of heavy metals: a review. Environ Process 3(2):495–523
Jing Q, Yue L, Hamid M, Douglas G, Ramim TR, Fang Z (2019) Adsorption mechanism modeling using lead (Pb) sorption data on modified rice bran-insoluble fiber as universal approach to assess other metals toxicity. Int J Food Prop 22:1397–1410. https://doi.org/10.1080/10942912.2019.1650764
Joseph L, Jun BM, Flora JR, Park CM, Yoon Y (2019) Removal of heavy metals from water sources in the developing world using low-cost materials: a review. Chemosphere 229:142–159. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.04.198
Kiran P, Rao PS (2014) Rheological and structural characterization of prepared aqueous Aloe vera dispersions. Food Res Int 62:1029–1037. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2014.05.033
Kyzas GZ, Matis KA (2015) Nanoadsorbents for pollutants removal: a review. J Mol Liq 203:59–168
Langmuir I (1916) The constitutional and fundamental properties of solids and liquids. J Am Chem Soc 38:2221–2295
Lim AP, Aris AZ (2014) A review on economically adsorbents on heavy metals removal in water and wastewater. Rev Environ Sci Biotechnol 13:163–181. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11157-013-9330-2
Lim LBL, Priyantha N, Tennakoon DTB, Chieng HI, Dahri MK, Suklueng M (2014) Breadnut peel as a highly effective low-cost biosorbent for methylene blue: equilibrium, thermodynamic and kinetic studies. Arab J Chem 10:S3216–S3228. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arabjc.2013.12.018
Lindholm-Lehto PC (2019) Biosorption of heavy metals by lignocellulosic biomass and chemical analysis. BioResources 14(2):4952–4995
Marín-Allende MDJ, Romero-Guzmán ET, Ramírez-García JJ, Reyes-Gutiérrez LR (2016) Chromium (VI) removal from aqueous medium by maize cane and agave bagasse biomasses. Part Sci Technol 35:704–711. https://doi.org/10.1080/02726351.2016.1194350
Martín-Lara MA, Blázquez G, Ronda A, Pérez A, Calero M (2013) Development and characterization of biosorbents to remove heavy metals from aqueous solutions by cehmical treatment of Olive stone. Ind Eng Chem Res 52:10809–11089. https://doi.org/10.1021/ie401246c
Mciteka H (2008) Fermentation characteristics and nutritional value of Opuntia ficus-indica cladode silage. Dissertation. University of the Free State. Bloemfontein, South Africa
Mohammad-Rezaei R, Jaymand M (2019) Graphene quantum dots coated on quartz sand as efficient and low-cost adsorbent for removal of Hg2+ and Pb2+ from aqueous solutions. Environ Prog SustainEnergy 38:S24–S31. https://doi.org/10.1002/ep.12911
Moreira VR, Lebron YAR, Freire SJ, Santos LVS, Palladino F, Jacob RS (2019) Biosorption of copper ions from aqueous solution using Chlorella pyrenoidosa: optimization, equilibrium and kinetics studies. Microchem J 145:119–129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.microc.2018.10.027
Nahar K, Chowdhury MAK, Chowdhury MAH, Rahman A, Mohiuddin KM (2018) Heavy metals in handloom-dyeing effluents and their biosorption by agricultural byproducts. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25:7954–7967. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-1166-9
Nguyen TAH, Ngo HH, Guo WS, Zhang J, Liang S, Yue QY, Li Q, Nguyen TV (2013) Applicability of agricultural waste and by-products for adsorptive removal of heavy metals from wastewater. Bioresour Technol 148:574–585. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2013.08.124
Nharingo T, Zivurawa MT, Guyo U (2015) Exploring the use of cactus Opuntia ficus indica in the biocoagulation-flocculation of Pb(II) ions from wastewaters. Int J Environ Sci Technol 12(12):3791–3802. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-015-0815-0
Nikolic M, Robert RJ, Girish CR (2019) The adsorption of cadmium, nickel, zinc, copper and lead from wastewater using tea fiber waste. J Eng Appl Sci 14(19):7272–7284. https://doi.org/10.36478/jeasci.2019.7743.7755
Onditi M, Adelodun AA, Changamu EO, Ngila JC (2016) Removal of Pb2+ and Cd2+ from drinking water using polysaccharide extract isolated from cactus pads (Opuntia ficus indica). J Appl Polym Sci 133:1–9. https://doi.org/10.1002/app.43913
Ozaki H, Ichise H, Kitaura E, Yaginuma Y, Yoda M, Kuno K, Watanabe I (2019) Immutable heavy metal pollution before and after change in industrial waste treatment procedure. Sci Rep 9:4499. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-40634-2
Ozdes D, Gundogdu A, Keme B, Duran C, Kucuk M, Soylak M (2014) Assessment of kinetics, thermodynamics and equilibrium parameters of Cr(VI) biosorption onto Pinus brutia Ten. Can J Chem Eng 92(1):139–147
Park D, Yun YS, Park JM (2010) The past, present, and future trends of biosorption. Biotechnol Bioprocess Eng 15:86–102. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12257-009-0199-4
Paul ED, Nwoken NC, Anumonye FU (2018) Biosorption of heavy metals (Cd2+, Cr3+, Cu2+, Ni2+, Pb2+ and Zn2+) from aqueous solution onto activated carbon prepared from chicken feather. ATBU J Sci Technol Educ 6:194–205
Paul ED, Nwokem NC, Anumonye FU (2019) Biosorption of Nickel (II) from aqueous solution onto activated carbon prepared from chicken feather. J Appl Sci Environ Manage 23:1057–1060. https://doi.org/10.4314/jasem.v23i6.9
Richards S, Dawson J, Stutter M (2019) The potential use of natural vs commercial biosorbent material to remediate stream waters by removing heavy metal contaminants. J Environ Manage 231:275–281. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.10.019
Romero-González J, Parra-Vargas F, Cano-Rodríguez I, Rodríguez E, Ríos-Arana J, Fuentes-Hernández R, Ramírez-Flores J (2007) Biosorption of Pb(II) by Agave tequilana Weber (Agave azul) biomass. Rev Mex Ing Quím 6(3):295–300
Ronda Gálvez A (2016). Preparación y aplicación de biosorbentes activados químicamente para la eliminación de plomo de medios acuosos. PhD dissertation. Universidad de Granada. ISBN 978-84-9125-842-1. http://hdl.handle.net/10481/43622
Rosique M, Angosto JM, Guibal E, Roca MJ, Fernández-López JA (2016) Factorial design methodological approach for enhanced cadmium ions bioremoval by Opuntia biomass. Clean-Soil Air Water 44:959–966. https://doi.org/10.1002/clen.201500368
Salman M, Athar M, Farooq U (2015) Biosorption of heavy metals from aqueous solution using indigenous and modified lignocellulosic materials. Rev Environ Sci Biotechnol 14:211–228. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11157-015-9362-x
Sanjuan-Raygoza RJ, Jasso-Gastinel CF (2009) Efecto de la fibra de Agave de desecho en el reforzamiento de polipropileno virgen o reciclado. Rev Mex Ing Quím 8:319–327
Semerjian L (2018) Removal of heavy metals (Cu, Pb) from aqueous solutions using pine (Pinus halepensis) sawdust: equilibrium, kinetic, and thermodynamic studies. Environ Technol Innov 12:91–103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2018.08.005
Shafiq M, Alazba AA, Amin MT (2018) Removal of heavy metals from wastewater using date palm as a biosorbent: a comparative review. Sains Malays. 47:35–49. https://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2018-4701-05
Siddiqui E, Pandey J (2019) Assessment of heavy metal pollution in water and surface sediment and evaluation of ecological risks associated with sediment contamination in the Ganga River: a basin-scale study. Environ Sci Pollut Res 26:10926–10940. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-04495-6
Srivastava S, Agrawal SB, Mondal MK (2015) A review on progress of heavy metal removal using adsorbents of microbial and plant origin. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22:15386–15415. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5278-9
Sud D, Mahajan G, Kaur MP (2008) Agricultural waste material as potential adsorbent for sequestering heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions—a review. Bioresour Technol 99:6017–6027. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2007.11.064
Tran HT, Vu ND, Matsukawa M, Okajima M, Kaneko T, Ohki K, Yoshikawa S (2016) Heavy metal biosorption from aqueous solutions by algae inhabiting rice paddies in Vietnam. J Environ Chem Eng 4:2529–2535. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2016.04.038
Tumuluru JS, Wright CT, Boardman RD, Yancey NA, Sokhansanj S (2011) A review on biomass classification and composition, co-firing issues and pretreatment methods. In 2011 ASABE Annual International Meeting Louisville, Kentucky, August 7-10, 2011 (p. 1). American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. https://doi.org/10.13031/2013.37191
Vardhan KH, Kumar PS, Panda RC (2019) A review on heavy metal pollution, toxicity and remedial measures: current trends and future perspectives. J Molecular Liquids. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2019.111197
Velazquez-Jimenez L, Pavlick A, Rangel-Mendez JR (2013) Chemical characterization of raw and treated agave bagasse and its potential as adsorbent of metal cations from water. Ind Crops Prod 43:200–206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2012.06.049
Vieira RH, Volesky B (2000) Biosorption: a solution to pollution? Int Microbiol 3:17–24
Vizcaíno L, Fuentes N (2015) Biosorción de Cd, Pb y Zn por biomasa pretratada de algas rojas, cáscara de naranja y tuna. Cien Ing Neogranadina 25(1):43–60. https://doi.org/10.18359/rcin.432
Yang L, Lu M, Carl S, Mayer JA, Cushman JC, Tian E, Lin H (2015) Biomass characterization of Agave and Opuntia as potential biofuel feedstocks. Biomass Bioenergy 76:43–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2015.03.004
Yeneneh AM, Maitra S, Eldemerdash V (2011) Study on biosorption of heavy metals by modified lignocellulosic waste. J Appl Sci 11:3555–3562. https://doi.org/10.3923/jas.2011.3555.3562
Acknowledgments
The authors wish to thank Alicia Ronda Galvez for her support in reviewing the results of the isotherms of Langmuir and Freundlich. Also, this work was supported by the National Council for Science and Technology (CONACyT by its acronym in Spanish) with a PhD scholarship awarded to Flores-Trujillo AKI (Grant: 592589).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
There is no conflict of interest of any kind between the author and co-authors.
Additional information
Editorial responsibility: Jing Chen.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Flores-Trujillo, A.K.I., Mussali-Galante, P., de Hoces, M.C. et al. Biosorption of heavy metals on Opuntia fuliginosa and Agave angustifolia fibers for their elimination from water. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 18, 441–454 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-020-02832-8
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-020-02832-8