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. 2024 Aug 23;10(17):e36811.
doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e36811. eCollection 2024 Sep 15.

Insights into the environmental benefits of using apple pomace for biosorption of lead from contaminated water

Gabriela Ungureanu  1 , Iuliana-Maria Enache  1 , Irina Gabriela Cara  2 , Iuliana Motrescu  1   2 , Antoanela Patras  1
Affiliations

Insights into the environmental benefits of using apple pomace for biosorption of lead from contaminated water

Gabriela Ungureanu et al. Heliyon. .

Abstract

The apple processing industry generates large quantities of organic waste, presenting a major source of organic contamination. Consequently, finding an effective solution for valorizing this waste has become a pressing issue. This study aims to address two key concerns: (i) solving an agricultural problem by efficiently using agri-food residue, and (ii) removing lead, an extremely toxic element, from contaminated waters to mitigate environmental pollution. Two biosorbents were tested: raw apple waste (RA), obtained from a mixture of apple varieties, and the same material after extracting valuable bioactive and reusable components, extracted apple (EA). The study evaluated the influence of pH, initial biosorbent mass, adsorption kinetics, and equilibrium isotherms. The results are very promising, showing a lead removal efficiency of 82 % for RA and 100 % for EA at a low initial concentration of the solution of 20 mg Pb2⁺/L and an optimal pH of 5 ± 0.5. The Langmuir model predicted a maximum adsorption capacity of 44.6 mg/g for RA and 48.6 mg/g for EA. These findings demonstrate that apple waste, even after selective extraction of valuable bioactive components, can be effectively used for environmental remediation on a practical scale.

Keywords: Apple juice; Biosorption; Food waste; Lead removal; Low-cost adsorbents.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Diagram of methodological steps.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
FTIR spectra of studied biosorbents (ahead and afterward Pb-loading).
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
SEM pictures for: (a) RA; (b) RA-loaded Pb; (c) EA; (d) EA-loaded Pb.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Elemental chemical analysis by EDAX: (a) RA; (b) RA-loaded Pb; (c) EA; (d) EA-loaded Pb.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Lead species distribution in water at 25 °C (33).
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
pH effect on lead adsorption, C0 = 20 mg/L Pb(II), T = 23 ± 1 °C, 4 h contact time, Cs = 0.5 g/L (a) RA and (b) EA.
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Removal effectiveness and adsorbed amount by (a) RA and (b) EA, at various biosorbent concentrations, C0 = 20 mg/L Pb(II), pH 5 ± 0.5, T = 23 ± 1 °C, 4 h reaction time.
Fig. 8
Fig. 8
Kinetics for Pb (II) biosorption on (a) RA and (b) EA at C0 = 20 mg/L Pb(II), Cs = 0.5 g/L biosorbent dosage, T = 23 ± 1 °C: experimental points and pseudo-first (1st) and pseudo-second (2nd) order model.
Fig. 9
Fig. 9
Pb (II) biosorption isotherms for (a) RA and (b) EA, at different C0 of Pb(II), Cs = 0.5 g/L dosage, T = 23 ± 1 °C, 5 h contact time: experimental points and Langmuir and Freundlich models.
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