Composite biosorbent for treatment of waste aqueous system(s) containing heavy metals

Abstract

A biosorbent composition, process of preparing and use thereof wherein the biosorbent composition comprises a chitosan-coated substrate. Useful substrates include support materials such as a ceramic support material. The biosorbent composition of the instant invention is useful in treating aqueous systems, including wastewater and aqueous waste streams, by removing undesired heavy metals.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A process for preparing a supported chitosan biosorbent useful for the treatment of wastewater which comprises preparing a ceramic support material, preparing a chitosan gel, and coating said chitosan gel to said ceramic support material.  
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1  wherein a second surface coating of chitosan gel is applied to said supported chitosan biosorbent.  
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said ceramic support material comprises acid treated alumina prepared by drying ceramic alumina, mixing the dry ceramic alumina with an acid to form a mixture, filtering and washing the mixture to prepare a washed mixture, and drying the washed mixture.  
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said chitosan gel is prepared by dissolving chitosan in an acid.  
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 4  wherein said acid is an organic acid.  
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 5  wherein said organic acid is selected from the group consists of acetic and oxalic acid.  
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said chitosan-coated biosorbent is filtered under a vacuum, washed, dried and coated with a second layer of chitosan gel.  
     
     
         8 . A biosorbent composition comprising a support material coated with chitosan useful for the treatment of wastewater.  
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 8  wherein said biosorbent composition is useful for removing heavy metals from wastewater.  
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 8  wherein said support material comprises a ceramic support material.  
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 8  wherein said biosorbent composition is prepared by dip coating chitosan gel on to said support material.  
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 11  wherein said support material comprises a ceramic support material.  
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 10  wherein said biosorbent composition is prepared by spin coating chitosan gel on to said support material.  
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 13  wherein said support material comprises a ceramic support material.  
     
     
         15 . A process for treating aqueous systems containing heavy metals comprising adding a chitosan-coated biosorbent to an aqueous system.  
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 15  wherein said chitosan-coated biosorbent comprises a support material coated with chitosan gel.  
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 15  wherein said support material comprises a ceramic support material.  
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 15  wherein the aqueous systems are aqueous waste streams.  
     
     
         19 . A biosorbent composition comprising a support material coated with chitosan, its equivalents and the like useful for the treatment for wastewater.  
     
     
         20 . A process for preparing a biosorbent useful for the treatment of wastewater which comprises preparing a ceramic support material, preparing a gel, and coating said gel to said ceramic support material, wherein said gel comprises chitosan, its equivalents and the like.  
     
     
         21 . A process for treating aqueous systems containing heavy metals comprising adding a biosorbent to an aqueous system, wherein said biosorbent comprises a coating of chitosan, its equivalents and the like.