Modelling and optimization of chromiumIII biosorption on soybean meal

In this investigation a waste biological material, soybean meal, was applied as a biosorbent for heavy metal ions (Cr-III). The diffusive Webber-Morris model and the pseudo-II-order model suitably described the kinetics of Cr-III ions binding on soybean meal. The Langmuir-Freundlich equation was valid for the description of the isotherm. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), FTIR and scanning electron microscopy with an energy dispersive X-ray analytical system (SEM-EDX) were used in order to identify the mechanism of the metal ions binding. The analysis of the composition of the enriched soybean meal confirmed the contribution of ion exchange in the biosorption process. Three-variable-three-level Box-Behnken design was used to determine the optimal conditions for biosorption of Cr-III on soybean meal. The optimal conditions for predicted maximum Cr3+ uptake (61.07 mg g(-1)) by soybean meal were estimated by Matlab and established as temperature of 38.04A degrees C, initial metal concentration 500 mg L-1 and biosorbent dosage 1 g L-1.