Abstract
In this study the valorization of Pistia stratiotes biomass as biosorbent for lead(II) removal from aqueous media was investigated in batch system. About 0.125 g of biomass was sufficient to remove 96% of lead(II) from 25 mL of solution in 60 min, at room temperature, and the maximum of biosorption has been reached in a large pH interval. The equilibrium biosorption data are well represented by the Langmuir model, while the pseudo-second order model was applicable to the kinetic data. The lead(II) could be easily eluted with 0.1 mol/L HCl, and the biomass may be reused in three biosorption/desorption cycles.