Removal of Pb(II) ions from aqueous solutions by Brevibacillus agri-loaded clay: Kinetic, isotherm, and artificial neural network modeling

Brevibacillus agri was immobilized onto an abundant natural clay through a simple synthesis route to develop a novel and efficient adsorbent for the removal of Pb(II) ions from aqueous media. The adsorption behavior of Brevibacillus agri-loaded clay (BLC) was evaluated using batch experiments by investigating the effects of initial solution pH, BLC dosage, contact time, initial Pb(II) concentration, temperature, and the presence of foreign ions. The optimum conditions were determined to be an initial solution pH of 5.0 and a contact time of 120 min. Isotherm models were applied to elucidate the interactions between Pb(II) ions and BLC, while kinetic studies were conducted to evaluate the adsorption performance and underlying mechanisms. The maximum adsorption capacity of BLC was 65.4 mg g-1. Thermodynamic parameters revealed that Pb(II) adsorption on BLC was exothermic, feasible, and spontaneous at 25ºC. Artificial neural network (ANN) studies provided highly accurate predictions by modeling and confirmed the reliability and applicability of the model for Pb(II) removal in industrial applications. This study presents an innovative and sustainable approach for heavy metal removal, offering an effective solution applicable to environmental remediation processes.