Biosorptive removal of bare-, citrate-, and PVP-coated silver nanoparticles from aqueous solution by activated sludge

• Widespread use can lead to the release of Ag+ or AgNPs to the environment.
• Biosorptive removal of bare-, citrate-, and polyvivnypyrrolidone-AgNPs were tested using biological floc in activated sludge.
• Zeta potential of AgNPs depended on the hydrodynamic diameter and then finally maximum uptake capacity.
• Biological floc in activated sludge could be used as effective biosorbents for removal of AgNPs in aqueous solutions.

The removal of AgNPs released from nano-consumer products or effluent of wastewater from treatment plants is important to reduce the potential risk of AgNPs. In this work, biosorptive removal of bare-, citrate-, and polyvivnypyrrolidone-AgNPs were tested using biological floc in activated sludge. The results of isotherms and kinetics test showed that zeta potential of AgNPs depended on the hydrodynamic diameter and then finally maximum uptake capacity. Herein, biological floc in activated sludge could be used as effective biosorbents for removal of AgNPs in aqueous solutions.

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