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A comparative study of Cu(II) biosorption onto dried activated sludge of different sludge ages

  • MengNan Wang , Amira Suriaty Yaakop and Si Ling Ng ORCID logo EMAIL logo
Published/Copyright: March 25, 2025
Pure and Applied Chemistry
From the journal Pure and Applied Chemistry Volume 97 Issue 8

Abstract

This study compared the Cu(II) biosorption performance of dried activated sludge (DAS) of different sludge ages (5, 20 and 40 days). The influence of contact time, initial concentration, biosorbent dosage, pH, and sludge age on Cu(II) biosorption onto DAS was investigated. The optimal conditions for biosorption were identified as: 3-h contact time, pH 3–5, 0.1 g DAS dosage, and 100 mg/L initial Cu(II) concentration. The Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetics provided excellent fits to the experimental data. The adsorption capacity decreased with increasing sludge age, with maximum monolayer adsorption capacities of 40.32, 37.04 and 24.27 mg/g for DAS-5, DAS-20 and DAS-40, respectively. Thermodynamic analysis revealed that the Cu(II) biosorption onto DAS was a spontaneous and endothermic physisorption process with an increase in randomness. The Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy analysis indicated the involvement of –OH, –NH, C=O, C–N and nitro and disulfide groups in Cu(II) biosorption. These findings demonstrate the potential of DAS as a cost-effective and sustainable biosorbent for copper removal.

Keywords: biosorption; Cu(II) ions; dried activated sludge; heavy metal; sludge age; ICYC 2024
Corresponding author: Si Ling Ng, School of Chemical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Penang, 11800, Malaysia, e-mail:
Article note: A collection of invited papers based on presentations at the 9th International Conference for Young Chemists (ICYC 2024) held on 9–11 October 2024 in Penang, Malaysia.

Funding source: Universiti Sains Malaysia

Award Identifier / Grant number: Universiti Sains Malaysia, Special (Matching) Short-Term Grant 304/PKIMIA/6315706

  1. Research ethics: Not applicable.

  2. Informed consent: Not applicable.

  3. Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission. Wang: Investigation, formal analysis, writing-original draft. Yaakop: Supervision, writing-review and editing. Ng: Conceptualization, supervision, funding acquisition, writing-review and editing.

  4. Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: None declared.

  5. Conflict of interest: The authors state no conflict of interest.

  6. Research funding: This work is supported by a Universiti Sains Malaysia, Special (Matching) Short-Term Grant with Project Number: 304/PKIMIA/6315706.

  7. Data availability: Not applicable.

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Received: 2024-11-30
Accepted: 2025-03-11
Published Online: 2025-03-25
Published in Print: 2025-08-26

© 2025 IUPAC & De Gruyter

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Review Article
  3. Hydrochar as sustainable redox catalyst for advanced oxidation processes-based wastewater treatment
  4. Research Articles
  5. A comparative study of Cu(II) biosorption onto dried activated sludge of different sludge ages
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https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2024-0360
Keywords for this article
biosorption; Cu(II) ions; dried activated sludge; heavy metal; sludge age; ICYC 2024

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Review Article
  3. Hydrochar as sustainable redox catalyst for advanced oxidation processes-based wastewater treatment
  4. Research Articles
  5. A comparative study of Cu(II) biosorption onto dried activated sludge of different sludge ages
  6. Detection of hexavalent chromium in solutions using optode membrane: fabrication and methods validation
  7. Effect of tin filler composition on porosity in tin-polydimethylsiloxane composites
  8. Acid-activated natural zeolite clinoptilolite functionalized with curcumin for superior methylene blue adsorption: insights into optimization, characterization, and adsorption mechanisms
  9. Factorial design assisted electrochemical detection of cypermethrin using molecularly imprinted polyaniline
  10. Photoluminescence studies on zinc-neodymium layered double hydroxide
  11. TMPTA crosslinker UV-grafted BPADA-BAPP polyimide thin films: thermo-chemical stability and structural characterization
  12. Development of chitosan/alginate/montmorillonite hydrogel microcomposite as adsorbent for paracetamol removal from waters
  13. Water responsive chitosan/polyacrylamide self-healable coating for polyethersulfone membrane
  14. Harnessing sporopollenin-based polymer membranes: an exploratory study on ciprofloxacin removal
  15. Synergistic mechanisms of ethanol and butanol in gasohol blends in 4-stroke SI engines for green sustainable energy solutions: revolutionizing engine efficiency, power output and emission reduction for net-zero transportation systems
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