Fixed–bed column studies of U(VI) biosorption using Pseudomonas putida – Chitosan hybrid biosorbent

In current research, Pseudomonas putida @ Chitosan hybrid biosorbent capability for U(VI) biosorption in a fixed bed column was investigated. The results showed that the increase in inlet concentration from 50 to 200 mg/L increased the biosorption capacity from 188.75 to 429.28 mg/g. In the column system, the sorption capacity was higher than that of the batch system because fixed bed column make best use of the inlet concentration difference as sorption driving force. Decrease in inlet flow rate through increase in the residence time for better diffusion or interaction as well as greater access to binding sites for uranium ions caused an improvement in column performance. Decline in the biosorption capacity due to increase in the inlet flow rate demonstrated that intraparticle diffusion was the rate-controlling step. With decreasing in the sorbent particle size from 1.5 to 1 mm, a significant increase in the biosorption capacity from 179.02 to 296.87 mg/g was achieved. FTIR and potentiometric titration confirmed that while –NH3+ was the dominant functional group in the chitosan, –NH3+, –NH3, –OH, –COOH were responsible for the hybrid biosorbent. In conclusion, the present study indicated that Pseudomonas putida @ Chitosan could be a suitable biosorbent for U(VI) biosorption from aqueous solution in the continuous system.