56
V. Anitha et al.
be an expensive process. Conventional methods of recycling nickel such as reverse
osmosis, electro-dialysis, precipitation, redox reaction and ion-exchange have certain
drawbacks and are not economically viable (Al-Rub et al. 2004). Nickel exposure
poses a considerable threat to the environment and human health. Acute exposure
to nickel can lead to nausea and vomiting. Long term frequent acute exposures
can lead to more serious conditions like kidney failure and respiratory problems.
Nickel is a carcinogen and can cause lung and prostate cancer (Parmer and Thakur
2013; Cayllahua and Torem 2011). In this paper, we propose a solution to remove
nickel from effluents by the process of Bio-sorption. Bio-sorption is achieved by
complex mechanisms like covalent and non-covalent forces existing between the
adsorbent and the adsorbate. The advantage of bio-sorption is its eco-friendly nature
when compared to other conventional methods of adsorption (Aravind et al. 2015).
In the current work, powdered seeds of the plant Mirabilis jalapa was explored
as an adsorbent, Mirabilis jalapa, commonly known as four o’clock flower of the
Nyctaginaceae family is found in warm temperate and tropical zones. It is a perennial
tuberous plant that is primarily grown as an ornamental plant. The seeds are invasive
and require no special modes of transmission for germinating (Yu and Zhou 2009).
Since these seeds are produced in large numbers in a short duration of time, it was
taken for biosorption studies (Fu and Wang 2011).
2 Materials and Methods
2.1 Collection and Preparation of Adsorbent
The seeds of Mirabilis jalapa shrub were collected and were subjected to drying to
remove the total moisture content from the seeds. The dried seeds were powdered
finely using a blender machine. The cotyledon part of the seed was removed since it
leaches out with water wash. Only the pod part of the seeds was retained and washed
thoroughly with distilled water. After the wash, the seeds were kept dry in a hot air
oven at 50 °C for 2 h (Yu and Zhou 2009).
2.2 Characterization of Adsorbent
2.2.1 Fourier Transformation Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)
FTIR is an analytical technique used to identify molecular components and structures
using infrared radiation. When a sample to be analyzed is radiated with IR radiation,
the molecules get excited and the radiation that are adsorbed characteristic of its
molecular structure. The signal transmitted is analyzed with the detector to produce
interferogram which are later analyzed to obtain a spectrum which is presented as
V. Anitha et al.
be an expensive process. Conventional methods of recycling nickel such as reverse
osmosis, electro-dialysis, precipitation, redox reaction and ion-exchange have certain
drawbacks and are not economically viable (Al-Rub et al. 2004). Nickel exposure
poses a considerable threat to the environment and human health. Acute exposure
to nickel can lead to nausea and vomiting. Long term frequent acute exposures
can lead to more serious conditions like kidney failure and respiratory problems.
Nickel is a carcinogen and can cause lung and prostate cancer (Parmer and Thakur
2013; Cayllahua and Torem 2011). In this paper, we propose a solution to remove
nickel from effluents by the process of Bio-sorption. Bio-sorption is achieved by
complex mechanisms like covalent and non-covalent forces existing between the
adsorbent and the adsorbate. The advantage of bio-sorption is its eco-friendly nature
when compared to other conventional methods of adsorption (Aravind et al. 2015).
In the current work, powdered seeds of the plant Mirabilis jalapa was explored
as an adsorbent, Mirabilis jalapa, commonly known as four o’clock flower of the
Nyctaginaceae family is found in warm temperate and tropical zones. It is a perennial
tuberous plant that is primarily grown as an ornamental plant. The seeds are invasive
and require no special modes of transmission for germinating (Yu and Zhou 2009).
Since these seeds are produced in large numbers in a short duration of time, it was
taken for biosorption studies (Fu and Wang 2011).
2 Materials and Methods
2.1 Collection and Preparation of Adsorbent
The seeds of Mirabilis jalapa shrub were collected and were subjected to drying to
remove the total moisture content from the seeds. The dried seeds were powdered
finely using a blender machine. The cotyledon part of the seed was removed since it
leaches out with water wash. Only the pod part of the seeds was retained and washed
thoroughly with distilled water. After the wash, the seeds were kept dry in a hot air
oven at 50 °C for 2 h (Yu and Zhou 2009).
2.2 Characterization of Adsorbent
2.2.1 Fourier Transformation Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)
FTIR is an analytical technique used to identify molecular components and structures
using infrared radiation. When a sample to be analyzed is radiated with IR radiation,
the molecules get excited and the radiation that are adsorbed characteristic of its
molecular structure. The signal transmitted is analyzed with the detector to produce
interferogram which are later analyzed to obtain a spectrum which is presented as