Type of Project: Protocol Development

Title:

Conductivity protocol for zinc (II) sulfate and lead (II) nitrate biosorption of M. oleifera leaf biomass

Significance of the project

The results of this preliminary investigation on developing a protocol for measuring conductivity may serve as
future reference in conducting and or designing biosorption experiments where more sophisticated equipment are
unavailable. The biosorptive capacity of Moringa oleifera biomass will serve as a reference for future biosorptive
research comparisons.

Underlying theory:

It is assumed that the dried malunggay biomass can also adsorb the metal ions at an optimum pH, in the same
way that results of other researches about heavy metal adsorption have. This can be measured in terms of decrease in
conductivity reading of the resulting pH solution that contains heavy metal ions. The principles considered in designing
the investigation were ionic dissociation in solutions, conductivity, and Le Chatelier’s equilibrium shifts.

Problems:

This investigation will be conducted to answer these questions

a. Will the developed protocol in conductivity be a possible substitute to the more sophisticated procedures of
spectroscopy in determining biosorption?
b. At what pH can malunggay biomass adsorb the greatest amount of ions?
c. Will the amount of time of exposure of malunggay biomass to the ionic solutions affect the amount of ions the
biomass adsorbs?

Brief Methodology:

The malunggay leaves will be prepared by washing in acid and rinsing in distilled water, sundrying, and
pulverizing using a blender. Standard solutions will be prepared from USP grade reagents. The solutions with lower
concentrations will be prepared through serial dilutions. The pH of standard solutions will be adjusted using hydrochloric
acid and sodium hydroxide solutions. The protocols used by a previous research will be modified for determining the
effect of pH and time of exposure to suit conductivity measurements. The solution conductivity measurements will be
determined using a NeuLog™ conductivity logger sensor. Linear regression will be used for converting conductivity
readings into crude quantitative measurements of biosorption.

Data Table:

Table 1 Conductivity readings of ZnSO4(aq) at various pH with 1 g malunggay biomass

pH of solution Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Average

(µS/cm) (µS/cm) (µS/cm) (µS/cm)
1
3
5
7
9
11

Table 2. Conductivity readings of Pb(NO3)2(aq) at various pH with 1 g malunggay biomass

Pb(NO3)2 Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Average

pH µS/cm µS/cm µS/cm µS/cm

11

13
 Table 3. Conductivity readings of standard ZnSO4(aq) solutions

Concentration Replicate 1 Replicate 2 Replicate 3 Average

Of ZnSO4(aq) (µS/cm) (µS/cm) (µS/cm) (µS/cm)
Blank
0.0005
0.0015
0.0025
0.0035
0.0045

Table 4. Average Conductivity of ZnSO4 (aq) vs time of exposure to malunggay biomass

Concentration 60 minutes 120 minutes 180 minutes

Of ZnSO4(aq) (µS/cm) (µS/cm) (µS/cm)
0.0005
0.0015
0.0025
0.0035
0.0045

Table 5. Changes in molar concentrations of ZnSO4(aq) solutions with biomass over time

Standard ZnSO4 Exposure time to biomass

concentration (M) 60 min 120 min 180 min

0.0005

0.0015

0.0025

0.0035

0.0045

Table 6. Conductivity reading of standard Pb(NO3)2(aq) solutions

Concentration Replicate 1 Replicate 2 Replicate 3 Average

Of (µS/cm) (µS/cm) (µS/cm) (µS/cm)
Pb(NO3)2(aq)
Blank
0.0005
0.0015
0.0025
0.0035
0.0045

Table 7. Average Conductivity of Pb(NO3)2(aq) vs time of exposure to malunggay biomass

Concentration 60 120 minutes 180 minutes

Of Pb(NO3)2(aq) minutes (µS/cm) (µS/cm)
(µS/cm)
0.0005
0.0015
0.0025
0.0035
0.0045
Table 8. Changes in molar concentrations of Pb(NO3)2(aq) solutions with biomass over time

Pb(NO3)2(aq) Exposure time to malunggay biomass

Concentration (M) 60 min 120 min 180 min

0.0005

0.0015

0.0025

0.0035

0.0045

Table 9. Results of precipitation reactions and gravimetric analyses before and after exposure to M. oleifera biomass

Reactions Without exposure to After 60- minute of Percentage

M. oleifera biomass exposure to M. of ppt
oleifera difference
adsorption
Mass of % Pb2+ Mass of % Pb2+
precipitate precipitate
(g) (g)

Pb(NO3)2 + 2KI →
PbI2 ↓+ KNO3

ZnSO4 + 2NaOH →
Zn(OH)2↓ + Na2SO4