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Abstract
Biosorption of Zinc from Effluent of Rubber Product Manufacturing
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 exopolymer production by the species cultured
on synthetic media were obtained. Studies conducted using rubber effluent
with initial zinc concentration 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.
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