Equilibrium, Thermodynamic, and Kinetic Studies on Trichoderma viride Biomass as Biosorbent for the Removal of Cu(II) from Water

Equilibrium, thermodynamic, and kinetic studies on the biosorption of Cu(II) using biomass, Trichoderma viride were carried out. The biosorbent was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy. The Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models were applied to describe the biosorption process. The influence of pH, the biomass dosage, the contact time, the initial metal ion concentration, and the temperature of the solution on the biosorption was studied. The maximum Cu(II) biosorption was attained at pH 5. The equilibrium data were better fit by the Langmuir isotherm model than by the Freundlich isotherm. The maximum biosorption capacity of T. viride biomass was found to be 19.6 mg/g for Cu(II). The kinetic studies indicated that the biosorption of Cu(II) followed the pseudo-second-order model. The calculated thermodynamic parameters, Gibbs-free energy (ΔGo), enthalpy (ΔHo), and entropy (ΔSo) showed that the biosorption of Cu(II) onto T. viride biomass was spontaneous and endothermic. It can be concluded that the T. viride biomass has the potential as an effective and low-cost biosorbent for Cu(II) removal from aqueous solutions.