Kinetic studies of the biosorption of lead and zinc from solution using tea fibre

Abstract: This paper presents a biobsorption study on Zn and Pb(II) from dilute aqueous 

solution using tea fiber as the biosorbent. The biosorption study was carried out as a function 

of contact time, initial metal ion concentration and biosorbent dosage. The residual Zn and 

Pb(II) in solution were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The 

biosorption was also time dependent as maximum biosorption was obtained after 10 and 20 

min, for both lead and zinc respectively. Kinetic studies show that the biosorption of both Zn 

and Pb(II) can be described by pseudo-second-order kinetics while that of Zn in addition, 

also fitted more to pseudo first order than that of Pb. For the metal ions, the biosorption 

efficiency increases with increase in initial metal ion concentration. These results indicate 

that tea fiber has a high potential for the uptake of Zn and Pb (II) from industrial effluents 

waste water and therefore, present yet another bright future in the treatment of industrial 

effluents containing these metals with a merit of the tea fiber been safe, readily available and 

cost effective.