Water treatment of hexavalent chromium by gelatin-impregnated-yeast (Gel–Yst) biosorbent

• A gelatin-impregnated-yeast as a novel biosorbent was used.
• Cr(VI) biosorption and remediation from water was investigated.
• The maximum capacity is 1.680 mmol g−1 in pH 1.0.
• Biosorption of Cr(VI) followed various adsorption isotherms.
• Excellent removal of Cr(VI) from water (pH 1.0) was observed.

A method is described for biosorption and water treatment of Cr(VI) from aqueous and real water samples by using gelatin-impregnated-yeast as a novel biosorbent. Gelatin and yeast materials (Gel–Yst) were combined together to form a novel eco-friendly, non-toxic, non-carcinogenetic, biodegradable, biocompatible and inexpensive biosorbent to enhance the extraction and biosorption of Cr(VI) from water. The potential affinity characters of Gel–Yst for biosorption of Cr(VI) were studied by the static technique in various buffer solutions. Other controlling experimental factors were also examined and evaluated. The effect of initial concentration of Cr(VI) was also evaluated to follow the postulates of Langmuir, Brunauer–Emmer–Teller (BET) and Dubinin–Radushkevich (D–R) adsorption isotherms. The potential applications of Gel–Yst biosorbent in water treatment processes of Cr(VI) from real acidic and neutral water samples by using multi-stage micro-column techniques were successfully accomplished.

The eco-friendly, non-toxic, non-carcinogenetic, biodegradable, biocompatible and inexpensive characteristics of a novel gelatin-yeast (Gel–Yst) biosorbent were explored, examined, optimized, implemented, evaluated, and reported for biosorptive removal of toxic Cr(VI) species from water samples.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide