Biosorptive-flotation of copper(II) from environmental water samples using sugar beet pulp as sorbent and oleic acid as surfactant

Trace elements, especially toxic metals, are considered to be one of the main sources of pollution in the environment, since they have a significant effect on its ecological quality. The present study aims to develop a simple biosorptive-flotation method to remove Cu(II) from aqueous solutions using sugar beet pulp (SBP) as sorbent and oleic acid (HOL) as surfactant. SBP as an agricultural plant waste (which is an effective and inexpensive sorbent) was used as native sugar beet pulp (NSBP), i.e. without treatment, or after treatment with an acid (ASBP) or a base (BSBP). The main parameters (initial pH, sorbent, Cu²⁺ ions and surfactant concentrations, shaking times, temperature, ionic strength and the presence of foreign ions) that influence the flotation process were examined. Under the optimum experimental conditions, at pH 7 and at room temperature (~25°C), about 100% of Cu(II) was removed. The recommended procedure was successfully applied to recover Cu²⁺ ions spiked in aqueous solution and in natural water samples.