Sustainable Processes of Biosorption of Pb(II) Ions from Synthetic Wastewater Using Waste Biomass from Mullein Leaves

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate mullein (Verbascum thapsus) as a cost-effective and sustainable adsorbent for the biosorption of Pb(II) ions from synthetic wastewater samples. Biosorption of mullein was investigated as a function of initial Pb(II) concentration (25–400 mg L−1), biosorbent dosage (2–20 g L−1), solution pH (3–7), and contact time (10–120 min). Mullein as a material with a high affinity for Pb(II) ions had a biosorption efficiency of 98.56% under the optimal conditions: pH 6, initial concentration of Pb(II) at 100 mg L−1, contact time of 90 min, and biosorbent dosage of 20 g L−1. The FTIR spectra of mullein leaves showed that oxygen-containing functional groups on the surface are potentially active sites for the biosorption of Pb(II) ions. EDS analysis and the pHPZC value confirmed the adsorption of Pb(II) ions at the active sites of the mullein. Kinetic and isotherm data enabled insights into the modes of Pb(II) biosorption on the mullein surface which were best explained with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Freundlich adsorption isotherm. Biosorption occurs on the mullein surface via multilayer adsorption. The reusability of mullein showed that the native biosorbents can be reused five times, showing the economic and sustainable benefit of this low-cost biosorbent material.