Potential Application of Indigenous Microorganism Derived Biosorbent in the Efficient Removal of Congo Red from Aqueous Solution

Abstract

IMO compost was obtained using Indigenous Microorganisms (IMO) as inoculant through anaerobic fermentation process from kitchen waste biomass. The Physico-chemical analysis of the solid was obtained by taking pH, MC, OM, OC, N, K and P content. The biosorbent material was further characterized by SEM, IR and BET analytical techniques. Various physico-chemical parametric studies viz. effect of pH, initial dye concentration and background electrolyte concentrations are performed in the removal of Congo red (CR) dye using the IMO compost. The lower pH condition pH < 6.0 favoured the removal of Congo red and the percent removal was decreased with increase in the CR concentration. The removal of Congo red followed the pseudo-second order rate kinetics and the equilibrium state sorption data was reasonably fitted well to the Freundlich adsorption isotherm. In addition, the minimal effect of background electrolyte concentrations (0.0001 to 0.1 mol/L NaNO3) in the removal of CR inferred a specific sorption of Congo red forming ‘inner sphere’ complexes at the surface of the biosorbent.