Process optimization and modeling of heavy metals extraction from a molybdenum rich spent catalyst by Aspergillus niger using response surface methodology

R. Mafi Gholami; S.M. Mousavi; S.M. Borghei

Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, Vol.18, No.1, 218-224, January, 2012

DOI10.1016/j.jiec.2011.11.006 Export Citation

Process optimization and modeling of heavy metals extraction from a molybdenum rich spent catalyst by Aspergillus niger using response surface methodology

R. Mafi Gholami, S.M. Mousavi^{1, †}, and S.M. Borghei^{2, †}

Department of Environmental Engineering, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran
¹Biotechnology Group, Chemical Engineering Department, Tarbiat Modares University, Jalal al Ahmad Highway, Tehran, Iran
²Biochemical and Bioenvironmental Research Center, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

E-mail:,

The present study examines the biorecovery of heavy metals from a spent refinery catalyst obtained from one of the oil refineries in Iran using Aspergillus niger. Bioleaching experiments were carried out in batch cultures using A. niger in the one-step process to mobilize Co, Mo and Ni from hazardous spent catalysts. Response surface methodology (RSM) was applied for the design and analysis of experiments with the optimization of pH, temperature, inoculum percentage, pulp density and rotation speed during the bioleaching of the metals. Experiments were designed as per the central composite design (CCD) technique. Three cubic mathematical models were derived for prediction of the responses. In process optimization, maximal values of Co, Mo and Ni recoveries were achieved as 71%, 69% and 46%, respectively, with a pH of 5.0, a temperature of 31 ℃, a pulp density of 2 g/L, a rotation speed of 115 rpm, and using a 12% inoculum.

Keywords:Heavy metals recovery;Molybdenum-rich spent catalyst;Aspergillus niger;Process optimization;Response surface methodology (RSM)

[References]

Krebs W, Brombacher C, Bosshard PP, Bachofen R, Brandl H, FEMS Microbiol.Rev., 20, 605 (1997)
Mafi Gholami R, Borghei SM, Mousavi SM, Hydrometallurgy., 106, 26 (2011)
Amiri F, Yaghmaei S, Mousavi SM, Bioresour. Technol., 102, 1567 (2011)
Ren WX, Li PJ, Geng Y, Li XJ, J. Hazard. Mater., 167(1-3), 164 (2009)
Furimsky E, Massoth FE, Catal. Today, 52(4), 381 (1999)
Al-Dalama K, Stanislaus A, Chem. Eng. J., 120(1-2), 33 (2006)
Marafi M, Stanislaus A, Resour. Conserv. Recycl., 53, 1 (2008)
Simate GS, Ndlovu S, Gericke M, Hydrometallurgy., 98, 241 (2009)
Montgomery DC, Design and Analysis of Experiments, John Wiley & Sons, New York (2001)
Myers RH, Montgomery DC, Response Surface Methodology, John Wiley & Sons, New York (2002)
Aslan N, Cifci F, Yan D, Sep. Purif. Technol., 59(1), 9 (2008)
Kalyani VK, Pallavika T, Charan G, Chaudhuri S, Coal Prep., 25, 141 (2005)
Mehrabani JV, Noaparast M, Mousavi SM, Dehghan R, Ghorbani A, Sep. Purif. Technol., 72(3), 242 (2010)
Souza MCD, Roberto IC, Milagres AMF, Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol., 52(6), 768 (1999)
Ma AYM, Ooraikul B, J. Food Proc. Preserv., 10, 99 (1986)
Ebrahimi B, Shojaosadati SA, Ranaie SO, Mousavi SM, Process. Biochem., 45, 81 (2010)
King VA, Int. J. Food Sci. Technol., 28, 519 (1993)
Gonen F, Aksu Z, J. Hazard. Mater., 154(1-3), 731 (2008)
Mohapatra S, Pradhan N, Mohanty S, Sukla LB, Miner. Eng., 22, 311 (2009)
Aung KMM, Ting YP, Biotechnology., 116, 159 (2005)
Santhiya D, Ting YP, Biotechnology., 116, 171 (2005)
Bosshard PB, Bachofen R, Brandl H, Environ. Sci. Technol., 30, 3066 (1996)
Burgstaller W, Schinner F, Biotechnology., 27, 91 (1993)
Strasser H, Burgstaller W, Schinner F, FEMS Microbiol. Lett., 119, 365 (1994)
Santhiya D, Ting YP, Biotechnology., 121, 62 (2006)

[Referenced By]

[1] Krebs W, Brombacher C, Bosshard PP, Bachofen R, Brandl H, FEMS Microbiol.Rev., 20, 605 (1997)

[2] Mafi Gholami R, Borghei SM, Mousavi SM, Hydrometallurgy., 106, 26 (2011)

[3] Amiri F, Yaghmaei S, Mousavi SM, Bioresour. Technol., 102, 1567 (2011)

[4] Ren WX, Li PJ, Geng Y, Li XJ, J. Hazard. Mater., 167(1-3), 164 (2009)

[5] Furimsky E, Massoth FE, Catal. Today, 52(4), 381 (1999)

[6] Al-Dalama K, Stanislaus A, Chem. Eng. J., 120(1-2), 33 (2006)

[7] Marafi M, Stanislaus A, Resour. Conserv. Recycl., 53, 1 (2008)

[8] Simate GS, Ndlovu S, Gericke M, Hydrometallurgy., 98, 241 (2009)

[9] Montgomery DC, Design and Analysis of Experiments, John Wiley & Sons, New York (2001)

[10] Myers RH, Montgomery DC, Response Surface Methodology, John Wiley & Sons, New York (2002)

[11] Aslan N, Cifci F, Yan D, Sep. Purif. Technol., 59(1), 9 (2008)

[12] Kalyani VK, Pallavika T, Charan G, Chaudhuri S, Coal Prep., 25, 141 (2005)

[13] Mehrabani JV, Noaparast M, Mousavi SM, Dehghan R, Ghorbani A, Sep. Purif. Technol., 72(3), 242 (2010)

[14] Souza MCD, Roberto IC, Milagres AMF, Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol., 52(6), 768 (1999)

[15] Ma AYM, Ooraikul B, J. Food Proc. Preserv., 10, 99 (1986)

[16] Ebrahimi B, Shojaosadati SA, Ranaie SO, Mousavi SM, Process. Biochem., 45, 81 (2010)

[17] King VA, Int. J. Food Sci. Technol., 28, 519 (1993)

[18] Gonen F, Aksu Z, J. Hazard. Mater., 154(1-3), 731 (2008)

[19] Mohapatra S, Pradhan N, Mohanty S, Sukla LB, Miner. Eng., 22, 311 (2009)

[20] Aung KMM, Ting YP, Biotechnology., 116, 159 (2005)

[21] Santhiya D, Ting YP, Biotechnology., 116, 171 (2005)

[22] Bosshard PB, Bachofen R, Brandl H, Environ. Sci. Technol., 30, 3066 (1996)

[23] Burgstaller W, Schinner F, Biotechnology., 27, 91 (1993)

[24] Strasser H, Burgstaller W, Schinner F, FEMS Microbiol. Lett., 119, 365 (1994)

[25] Santhiya D, Ting YP, Biotechnology., 121, 62 (2006)