Research Article
Moh. Muhaemin
Abstract
Various toxic metal species, including lead, are produced rapidly by industrial activities and fossil fuel consumption. The use of biological component as sorbents for heavy metals might be an alternative method to reduce a heavy metal concentration from various aqueous systems. Here, we used crab shell particles and extracted acetamido component from Portunus sp (chitin and chitosan) to reduce the concentration of lead (II). The crab shell was powdered, sieved, and added with lead (II) in various pH values. The lead (II) solution added to extract of chitin and chitosan was separated, to determine the chelating ability of them. The result showed that the removal efficiency of lead with crab shell depend on pH value, but it was less sensitive than that of the control without crab shell. Biosorption of chitin and chitosan showed different phenomenon. It showed that both chitin and chitosan absorb with the best capacity at pH 4.0. Chitosan has higher sorption than chitin for all treatments.