COMPARATIVE STUDIES OF THE BIOSORPTION OF HEAVY METALS ( LEAD & ZINC) USING TEA LEAVES (CAMELIA SINENSIS) & TEA FIBRE AS ADSORBENT

Abstract: This research has helped us to ascend from the initial two exploratory studies to a more advanced 

general conclusion and theory that tea leaves (Camellia sinensis) has a great potential for Pb(ii) and Zn 

uptake, as such, a more suitable Low-cost adsorbent for the effective removal of Pb (II) and Zn from 

industrial effluents waste water than tea fibre. This is coined from the results of the different biosorption 

studies carried out as a function of contact time, initial metal ion concentration, biosorbent dosage and 

Pseudo first and second order models separately carried out on tea leaves and tea fibres

Keywords: biosorption; spectroscopy; physisorption; chemisorptions; adsorption; dosage; kinetics; 

Camellia sinensis