Characterization of an Novel Extracellular Biopolymer by Scanning Electron Microscopy and FT-IR Spectroscopy and Its Use for Nickel Removal

In the present study we reported the feasibility of extracellular biopolymer(PF-9) produced by Pseudomonas fluorescence C-9 as an alternative biosorbent to remove Ni(II) metallic ions from environmental and industrial wastewater. The ability of PF-9 to remove the Ni(II) ions was investigated by using batch biosorption procedure. The effects such as pH, dosage of biosorbent, Ni(II) initial concentration and sorbate-sorbent contact time and agitating speed on the adsorption capacities of PF-9 were studied. Biosorption equilibriums were rapidly established in about 60 min and the adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second order kinetic model. The maximum Ni(II) adsorption capacity determined from Langmuir isotherm were 82.40 mg /g PF-9 at pH 5.0 ,at 25°C and shaker speed 150 rpm, respectively. The carboxyl , hydroxyl and amino groups of the PF-9 were involved in chemical interaction with the Ni(II) ions depicted by scanning electron microscopic (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic (FTIR) results. The study points to the potential of new use of extracellular biopolymer PF-9 as an effective biosorbent for the removal of Ni (II) and from environmental and industrial wastewater.