Identification and characterization of Leucobacter sp. N-4 for Ni (II) biosorption by response surface methodology

In the present study, batch experiments were carried out to characterize and optimize the removal process of Ni (II) by a nickel tolerant strain Leucobacter sp. N-4, which was isolated from the soil samples. The effects of operating parameters with respect to initial solution pH (3.0-6.5), initial nickel concentration (50-100mg/L) and biomass dosage (1-10g/L) on Ni (II) biosorption were investigated by response surface methodology (RSM). The maximal Ni (II) removal efficiency (nearly 99%) was achieved under the following conditions: pH 4.75, biomass dosage 5.38g/L and initial Ni (II) concentration 53.6mg/L. The adsorption-equilibrium data fitted well with both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The monolayer adsorption capacity of biomass obtained from Langmuir isotherm was about 19.6mg/g. Infrared spectrometer (IR) results showed that chemical functional groups (e.g. -NH₂, -OH and COO-M) of the biomass should be the active binding sites for Ni (II) biosorption from aqueous solutions.