Browsing by Author "Gupta, Suresh"

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Adsorption of Cr(VI) using activated neem leaves: kinetic studies
(Springer, 2008) Gupta, Suresh
In the present study, adsorbent is prepared from neem leaves and used for Cr(VI) removal from aqueous solutions. Neem leaves are activated by giving heat treatment and with the use of concentrated hydrochloric acid (36.5 wt%). The activated neem leaves are further treated with 100 mmol of copper solution. Batch adsorption studies demonstrate that the adsorbent prepared from neem leaves has a significant capacity for adsorption of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution. The parameters investigated in this study include pH, contact time, initial Cr(VI) concentration and adsorbent dosage. The adsorption of Cr(VI) is found to be maximum (99%) at low values of pH in the range of 1-3. A small amount of the neem leaves adsorbent (10 g/l) could remove as much as 99% of Cr(VI) from a solution of initial concentration 50 mg/l. The adsorption process of Cr(VI) is tested with Langmuir isotherm model. Application of the Langmuir isotherm to the system yielded maximum adsorption capacity of 62.97 mg/g. The dimensionless equilibrium parameter, R L, signifies a favorable adsorption of Cr(VI) on neem leaves adsorbent and is found to be between 0.0155 and 0.888 (0
Application of a hybrid biofilter column for the removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution using an indigenous bacterial strain Pseudomonas taiwanensis
(Taylor & Francis, 2016-02-01) Gupta, Suresh; Raghuvanshi, Smita; Majumder, Subhajit
In the present study, a laboratory-scale biofilter column was designed and fabricated. It was packed with a mixture of coal and compost as a packing medium. The column was enriched with an indigenous bacterial strain Pseudomonas taiwanensis isolated from aerobic mixed culture of Sewage Treatment Plant, BITS-Pilani, Pilani campus. The removal of hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] from aqueous solution was investigated in the biofilter column. The entire biofiltration operation was divided into five phases (I to V) for a period of 63 days. Biofilter column was subjected to shock loading conditions for 20 days immediately after 63 days of operation. The maximum removal efficiency of 89.4% was obtained during phase V for Cr(VI) inlet concentration of 40 mg L−1. During shock loading, maximum removal efficiency was obtained as 90% for 48.5–50 mg L−1 of initial Cr(VI) concentration. Kinetic parameters of biofiltration process for Cr(VI) removal were also determined by fitting Michaelis-Menten kinetic model with experimental data. The Michaelis-Menten kinetic constants were obtained as 0.258 mg L−1 min−1 and 26.83 mg L−1. It was found that Ottengraf-Van den Oever model with zero-order diffusion limitation fit the experimental data quite well for phases III, IV, and V with coefficient of determination (R2) values .97, .99, and .984, respectively. A possible method for safe disposal of packing medium was also presented in this study.
Application of Nanomaterials for the Removal of Pollutants from Effluent Streams
(Bentham Science, 2012) Gupta, Suresh; Maheshwari, Utkarsh
Rapid industrialization with the increase in the population leads to the water crisis. The number of industries using heavy metals such as copper, chromium, nickel, zinc, etc. in their process is also leaving behind the effluent containing a large amount of heavy metals which discharged directly to the water bodies. There are constraints set by the regulatory bodies of government on the industries to maintain an upper level discharge limit for each of the metal ion. There are various methods available for the removal of metal ions which are selected according to the requirement. Adsorption is one of the optimal solutions for the removal of metal ions from industrial effluent streams. It is helpful in reducing the operational cost and size of equipment along with the increase recovery of metal ions. Adsorption is a surface phenomenon so the foremost property required for a perfect adsorbent is the higher surface area. Nanoparticles are now being preferred to be used as an adsorbent due to their large surface area which is a very important characteristic for a desired adsorbent. Development of nanoparticles has been the subject of enormous interest since the past decade. They have incredible adsorption properties due to the presence of high-energy adsorption sites and they also have excellent binding energies or interaction potentials for physisorption than traditional adsorbents. This study summarized the use of nanomaterial for the removal of metal ions from wastewater streams. It also highlights the various types of nanomaterials, their fabrication method and characteristics. The mechanism of metal adsorption onto various nanomaterials is also described in this study.
Application of novel thermo-tolerant haloalkalophilic bacterium Halomonas stevensii for bio mitigation of gaseous phase CO2: Energy assessment and product evaluation studies
(Elsiever, 2017-04) Gupta, Suresh; Raghuvanshi, Smita; Mishra, Somesh
Present work deals with the bio-mitigation potential of gaseous phase CO2 by chemolithotrophic bacterium Halomonas stevensii isolated from haloalkaliphilic habitat using thiosulfate ion (S2O32−) as an energy source. H. stevensii was tested for various abiotic stress tolerances such as salt [2–12% (w/v)], temperature (10–60 °C) and pH (2–12). Batch studies were conducted for 6 days at 15 (±1) % (v/v) inlet CO2 concentration to find the CO2 fixing capability of H. stevensii under varying concentration of energy substrate i.e. 0, 50 and 100 mM Na2S2O3. Approximately 98% CO2 removal from gaseous phase was achieved at 50 and 100 mM Na2S2O3. Evaluation of CO2 fixation by H. stevensii and carbon allocation into different cellular organic pool (carbohydrate, proteins and primary metabolite) was carried out by growing H. stevensii at 5%, 10% and 15% (v/v) inlet CO2 concentration for the duration of 6 days. The obtained leachate was quantified using chemical technique, FT-IR and GC. Utilization of gaseous phase CO2 by H. stevensii was also proven by conducting the approximate materials balance and energy assessment for the present CO2 fixation process. The mechanism of CO2 metabolism by H. stevensii was evaluated using GC–MS and carbon partitioning into cellular organic pool analysis.
Assessing the bacterial consortium's potential to bio-mitigate CO2 and SO2 from simulated flue gas, wastewater bioremediation, and product characterization
(Elsevier, 2024-12) Raghuvanshi, Smita; Gupta, Suresh
The present study aims to fix carbon dioxide (CO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) simultaneously by conducting extensive semi-continuous experiments on the 3 L glass bioreactor to evaluate the potential of bacterial consortium for CO2 (C), SO2 (S), and CO2 + SO2 (CS) gaseous mixture. In this study, the bacterial consortium (Bacillus tropicus SSLMC1, Bacillus cereus SSLMC2) utilizes thiosulfate as an energy source and domestic wastewater (DWW) supplemented with additional minerals as a nutrient source. The maximum CO2 and SO2 mitigation efficiency was obtained as 93.8 % and 91.4 % for CS and S gaseous mixtures, respectively. The biomass concentration, biomass productivity, removal efficiency, and utilization efficiency for the CS gas mixture are comparable with the C and S gas mixture. Simultaneously, various nutrients and pollutants such as BOD, COD, PO43- and CO32- were removed. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Gas Chromatography-Mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis of cell lysate and cell-free supernatant have indicated the presence of fatty alcohols and long-chain hydrocarbons in all three gaseous mixtures. The present study showed that bacterial consortia can bio-mitigate CO2 and SO2 simultaneously and implement the bio-mitigation study of CO2 and SO2 in a real scenario
Bio-Mitigation of Carbon Dioxide Using Desmodesmus sp. in the Custom-Designed Pilot-Scale Loop Photobioreactor
(MDPI, 2021-09) Gupta, Suresh; Raghuvanshi, Smita; Verma, Sanjay Kumar
Today’s society is faced with many upfront challenges such as the energy crisis, water pollution, air pollution, and global warming. The greenhouse gases (GHGs) responsible for global warming include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (NOx), water vapor (H2O), and fluorinated gases. A fraction of the increased emissions of CO2 in the atmosphere is due to agricultural and municipal solid waste (MSW) management systems. There is a need for a sustainable solution which can degrade the pollutants and provide a technology-based solution. Hence, the present work deals with the custom design of a loop photobioreactor with 34 L of total volume used to handle different inlet CO2 concentrations (0.03%, 5%, and 10% (v/v)). The obtained values of biomass productivity and CO2 fixation rate include 0.185 ± 0.004 g L−1 d−1 and 0.333 ± 0.004 g L−1 d−1, respectively, at 10% (v/v) CO2 concentration and 0.084 ± 0.003 g L−1 d−1 and 0.155 ± 0.003 g L−1 d−1, respectively, at 5% (v/v) CO2 concentration. The biochemical compositions, such as carbohydrate, proteins, and lipid content, were estimated in the algal biomass produced from CO2 mitigation studies. The maximum carbohydrate, proteins, and lipid content were obtained as 20.7 ± 2.4%, 32.2 ± 2.5%, and 42 ± 1.0%, respectively, at 10% (v/v) CO2 concentration. Chlorophyll (Chl) a and b were determined in algal biomass as an algal physiological response. The results obtained in the present study are compared with the previous studies reported in the literature, which indicated the feasibility of the scale-up of the process for the source reduction of CO2 generated from waste management systems without significant change in productivity. The present work emphasizes the cross-disciplinary approach for the development of bio-mitigation of CO2 in the loop photobioreactor.
Biodegradation kinetics of Cr (VI) by acclimated mixed culture
(JCE, 2011-05) Raghuvanshi, Smita; Gupta, Suresh
Chromium was discovered in 1797 by Vauquelin. Numerous industrial applications raised chromium to a very important economic element. At the same time, with the development of its uses, the adverse effects of chromium compounds in human health were being investigated. Both acute and chronic toxicity of chromium are mainly caused by hexavalent compounds. It is highly toxic in nature and causes adverse effects on human beings. The present study deals with the removal of hexavalent chromium compound from industrial waste water using biodegradation by an acclimated mixed culture developed from activated sludge. The biodegradation studies are conducted for an initial Cr(VI) concentration ranging from 10-50 mg/L. The enrichment of culture is carried out for a period of 7 days. In these experiments, 100 mL of minimum salt medium (MSM) is autoclaved and added with known amount of acclimated mixed culture obtained from the enrichment procedure. Known amount of Cr(VI) is added in autoclaved MSM to maintain the required concentration of Cr(VI). The flasks are kept in the rotary shaker which is maintained at 37 C and at 150 rpm throughout the biodegradation process. The samples are collected at different intervals. The obtained biomass growth is significant and indicate the considerable decrease in Cr(VI) concentration in the solution The biodegradation rate kinetic parameters are obtained for zero order and three and half order kinetic models.
Biofilter column for removal of divalent copper from aqueous solutions: Performance evaluation and kinetic modeling
(INFOFNA, 2015) Gupta, Suresh; Raghuvanshi, Smita; Majumder, Subhajit
In recent years, the biofiltration technique has gained significant importance for the removal of toxic organic compounds. However, very limited studies on biofiltration were carried out for the removal of divalent copper [Cu(II)] from aqueous solution using indigenous packing material. There are no reports in the literature that deal with the performance evaluation and kinetic modeling of the biofilter column for the removal of Cu(II). In the present study, a lab- scale biofilter column was fabricated and packed with a mixture of compost and coal as a packing material. The seeding of the column was done using an indigenous bacterial strain Acinetobacter guillouiae. The removal of divalent copper [Cu(II)] was investigated in this column for a period of 55 days. The maximum removal efficiency of 97.5% was achieved during phase II for Cu(II) inlet concentration of 20 mg L−1. During shock loading, maximum removal efficiency obtained was 87% for initial Cu(II) concentration 28.5–30 mg L−1. The Michaelis–Menten kinetic constants obtained were 0.2 mg L−1 min−1 and 13.03 mg L−1. It was found that the Ottengraf model with zero-order diffusion-limitation fits the experimental data quite well for phase II, III and V.
Biofiltration: Essentials, Research and Applications
(Wiley, 2012-03) Raghuvanshi, Smita; Gupta, Suresh
Biofiltration: Essentials, Research and Applications
(Wiley, 2012-03-26) Gupta, Suresh; Raghuvanshi, Smita; Majumder, Subhajit
Carbon dioxide to bio-fuels by mixed and pure microbial cultures isolated from activated sludge: relative evaluation of CO2 fixation, biodiesel production, and thermodynamic analysis
(Wiley, 2019-08-31) Gupta, Suresh; Raghuvanshi, Smita; Mishra, Somesh
In the present work, the CO2(g) bio-mitigation potential (15% [v/v]) of a mixed microbial population, Enterobacter cloacae and Pseudomonas putida, is thermodynamically assessed and compared at different Fe(II) concentrations (energy source). CO2(g) removal efficiency values are evaluated on per-day basis for all cultures and found maximum for the mixed microbial population. Approximate material balance and thermodynamic assessment of the CO2(g) bio-mitigation studies have revealed that among all cultures, the mixed microbial population shows the highest actual CO2 utilization efficiency (R.RCO2) of 57.67 (±0.04)%. Leachate (biomass + cell free supernatant) obtained from CO2 bio-mitigation batch studies were analyzed using FTIR and gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy. The results obtained have shown the presence of fatty acids and hydrocarbons in considerable amounts. The fatty acids obtained from cultures have shown the presence of a carbon chain length in the range of C7–C25, which makes it a potential source of biodiesel. Biodiesel yields of 91.55%, 77.49%, and 38.69% were obtained for the mixed microbial population, E. cloacae and P. putida. The hydrocarbons obtained from all the microbial cultures were found to have a carbon chain length in the range of C9–C32 and comprised saturated and unsaturated groups, which make them comparable to light oil.
Characteristics and kinetic study of chitosan prepared from seafood industry waste for oil spills cleanup
(Taylor & Francis, 2012-05-15) Gupta, Suresh
Chitosan being a biodegradable material would be an eco-friendly and effective alternative in the cleaning up of oil spills. In the present study, adsorbent (Chitosan) was prepared from the seafood industry waste, prawn shells for removal of oil from aqueous solution. Batch experiments were carried out to study the kinetics for the removal of oil from oil–water solutions using chitosan. The effect of various influencing parameters such as contact time, pH, initial concentration, and mass of adsorbent were studied. The equilibrium time for adsorption of oil on chitosan was obtained as 6 min. The maximum capacity of chitosan to adsorb oil from oil–water solution was found to be 17.96 g g−1 of adsorbent. The removal efficiency was observed to be higher in the acidic medium. The adsorption properties of chitosan have been attributed mainly to its positive charge. The equilibrium data was tested with the Langmuir isotherm and excellent correlation was obtained.
Characterization and oil recovery application of biosurfactant produced during bioremediation of waste engine oil by strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa gi|KP 16392| isolated from Sambhar salt lake
(Taylor & Francis, 2021-05-05) Jain, Amit; Gupta, Suresh
Halophilic bacterium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa gi|KP 16392| isolated from Sambhar salt lake in the southwest region of the city of Jaipur, India was tested for the first time for potential application in waste engine oil bioremediation and simultaneous biosurfactant production. In this study, the batch experiments were performed on culture grown in mineral salt medium supplemented with 5% (v/v) waste engine oil as the sole carbon source incubated for a week at pH 7.0, maintaining 35 °C and 150 rpm. The bacterial growth was monitored by the optical density and dry biomass content measurements. The biosurfactant production was affirmed with the reduction in surface tension of the culture medium from 72 ± 0.36 to 29.61 ± 0.14 mN/m. Of the total waste engine oil fed, 74.35 ± 0.037% was consumed and biodegraded to secondary metabolites. The biosurfactant yield was found to be approximately 1.02 g/L. The functional groups in the product, identified with the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirms to be rhamnolipid and characterized using microbial adhesion to hydrocarbon (math) test and methyl assay. The emulsification activity of the produced biosurfactant was assessed for various hydrophobic substrates and was found to be comparable to the chemical surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate). The biosynthetic pathway (de novo synthesis) used by microbial strain to form rhamnolipid is schematically represented. The performance of the purified biosurfactant in oil recovery application was tested using a simulated waste engine oil contaminated soil and it showed excellent surface activity.
CO2 sequestration potential of halo-tolerant bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa SSL-4 and its application for recovery of fatty alcohols
(Elsiever, 2017-10) Jha, Prabhat N.; Mishra, Somesh; Gupta, Suresh; Raghuvanshi, Smita
Bio-mitigation of CO2 utilizing prokaryotes and simultaneous extraction of valuable bio-molecule is fast gaining interest now-a-days. Present work discusses the thermodynamic assessment of CO2 bio-mitigation capability of Pseudomonas aeruginosa SSL-4 isolated from halo alkalophilic habitat in the absence of light. The maximum specific growth (μMax, h−1) of isolate was found to be 0.425 (±0.0025) and 0.34 (±0.0063) at 3% (w/v) salt concentration and 35 °C, respectively. The isolate was cultivated in the environment having initial CO2 (g) concentration of 17(±0.8) % (v/v) using Fe[II] as an energy source (0, 50 and 100 ppm) for evaluating CO2 fixing ability of microorganisms. The maximum CO2 removal efficiency of 92.37 (±2.46) % (v/v) was obtained at 100 ppm of Fe[II] concentration. The isolate has shown the maximum CO2 fixation rate () of 0.04 (±0.003) and 0.06 (±0.001) g/L/d at 50 and 100 ppm of Fe[II] concentration, respectively. FT-IR and GC–MS analysis of obtained leachate revealed the presence of fatty alcohols (C12–C28) and total product recovery (C12–C18) of 0.371 g per g of biomass. The thermodynamic assessment revealed the actual CO2 utilization efficiency of 41.16%. Thus, the isolated strain from extreme hyper saline environment has shown the potential for research dedicated to carbon capture and utilization.
A comprehensive review of flue gas bio-mitigation: chemolithotrophic interactions with flue gas in bio-reactors as a sustainable possibility for technological advancements
(Springer, 2024-04) Raghuvanshi, Smita; Gupta, Suresh
Flue gas mitigation technologies aim to reduce the environmental impact of flue gas emissions, particularly from industrial processes and power plants. One approach to mitigate flue gas emissions involves bio-mitigation, which utilizes microorganisms to convert harmful gases into less harmful or inert substances. The review thus explores the bio-mitigation efficiency of chemolithotrophic interactions with flue gas and their potential application in bio-reactors. Chemolithotrophs are microorganisms that can derive energy from inorganic compounds, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and sulfur dioxide (SO2), present in the flue gas. These microorganisms utilize specialized enzymatic pathways to oxidize these compounds and produce energy. By harnessing the metabolic capabilities of chemolithotrophs, flue gas emissions can be transformed into value-added products. Bio-reactors provide controlled environments for the growth and activity of chemolithotrophic microorganisms. Depending on the specific application, these can be designed as suspended or immobilized reactor systems. The choice of bio-reactor configuration depends on process efficiency, scalability, and ease of operation. Factors influencing the bio-mitigation efficiency of chemolithotrophic interactions include the concentration and composition of the flue gas, operating conditions (such as temperature, pH, and nutrient availability), and reactor design. Chemolithotrophic interactions with flue gas in bio-reactors offer a potentially efficient approach to mitigating flue gas emissions. Continued research and development in this field are necessary to optimize reactor design, microbial consortia, and operating conditions. Advances in understanding the metabolism and physiology of chemolithotrophic microorganisms will contribute to developing robust and scalable bio-mitigation technologies for flue gas emissions.
A comprehensive study on the behavior of a novel bacterial strain Acinetobacter guillouiae for bioremediation of divalent copper
(Springer, 2015-05-28) Gupta, Suresh; Raghuvanshi, Smita; Majumder, Subhajit
Biological methods have been successfully used to mitigate heavy metal pollution problem in wastewater. The present study was aimed towards isolation of a novel indigenous bacterial strain, Acinetobacter guillouiae from activated sludge and its subsequent application in remediation of copper (Cu2+) from aqueous solution. Kinetic study of bioremediation was performed for initial Cu2+ concentrations ranging from 40 to 150 mg L−1. Optimum values of nutrient dosage, pH, macronutrients [Nitrogen (N)–Phosphorus (P)–Potassium (K)] dosage, aerobic and facultative anaerobic conditions, temperature, and inoculum volume were determined by conducting separate batch bioremediation studies at 80 mg L−1 initial concentration of Cu2+. Kinetic study showed that A. guillouiae removed 98.7 % Cu2+ for 80 mg L−1 initial concentration of Cu2+ after 16 h at an optimum solution pH of 7.0. Results also revealed that A. guillouiae showed maximum growth at double the standard composition of N, P and standard composition of K in nutrient dosage. Experimental data obtained in present study were utilized to validate different growth kinetic models such as Monod, Powell, Haldane, Luong, and Edwards. Growth kinetics of A. guillouiae was better understood by Luong model (R 2 = 0.97). Higher values of coefficient of determination (R 2 = 0.97–0.99) confirmed the suitability of the three-half-order kinetic model for representing the Cu2+ bioremediation. A. guillouiae showed a robust removal mechanism for the bioremediation of Cu2+.
Cover Image Mechanical and Water Absorption Properties of Hybrid Sisal/Glass Fibre Reinforced Epoxy Composite
(AJPSE, 2015) Gupta, Suresh
Our environment is being pullulated due to the great use of synthetic fibre as reinforcement for polymer composites. Natural fibres may be better choice for replacement of synthetic fibre for polymer composite to reduced environment burden. Hybrid sisal/glass fibre reinforced epoxy composites are prepared by hand lay-up technique using different weight fractions (10, 20, 30 and 40 %) with 10 mm length of fibres. Mechanical and water absorption properties of prepared composites are investigated. This study shows that the addition of glass fibre into sisal fibre reinforced composite has increased its mechanical properties. Statistical analysis is also carried out using T-test and ANOVA and found significant variation among composites.
Deducing the Bio-Perspective Capabilities of Fe(II) Oxidizing Bacterium Isolated from Extreme Environment
(BAB, 2015) Jha, Prabhat N.; Mishra, Somesh; Raghuvanshi, Smita; Gupta, Suresh
Rigorous utilization of chemical fertilizers, monoculture and irrigation with surface saline water is globally deteriorating the quality of surface soil. In present work, the halo and alkalo tolarent bacterium strain isolated from extreme environment, was explored for producing plant growth hormones, that could be used for salt stress up gradation of the crops. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used for analysis of salt tolerant bacterium. The bacterium was identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa KP163922. The Pseudomonas aeruginosa KP 163922 showed plant growth promotion traits, production of industrially important enzymes (amylase, protease and cellulase) and tolerance to more than 4% NaCl. The antagonistic test reveals that, the growth of pathogenic gram negative bacterium E. coli and Pseudomonas putida was repressed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa KP163922
Defluoridation studies using graphene oxidebased nanoadsorbents
(Elsevier, 2021) Raghuvanshi, Smita; Gupta, Suresh
The groundwater of many developed and developing countries including India has reported excessive fluoride concentrations. Various technologies are being used to remove fluoride from water but still the problem has remained unsolved. Among the available different technologies, adsorption is one of the best methods due to its easy handling, high efficiency, and lower cost. Adsorption technique with the application of nanoadsorbents has become more efficient, as the adsorption capacity is found to increase significantly due to the large surface area provided by the nanoparticles. Since the last few years, nanomaterial-related technologies have gained much attention in the field of water treatment. The previous studies have discussed the possible mechanism for fluoride ion adsorption on nanoparticles. This chapter discusses the possibility of magnesium oxide nanoparticles as adsorbents for the removal of fluoride from wastewater. This chapter demonstrated the use of modified Hummers' method for synthesizing nano-magnesium oxide (n-MgO) and nanocomposites (n-MgO-coated GOs). The developed adsorbents were characterized using various methods such as FTIR, XRD, SEM-EDX, TEM, etc. The effect of various influencing parameters such as initial pH, initial fluoride concentration, adsorbent dosage, and contact time on fluoride adsorption using developed adsorbents was studied. This chapter demonstrated the efficient removal of fluoride ions from aqueous solution using n-MgO and nanocomposites.
Efficient adsorbent for simultaneous removal of Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cr(VI): Kinetic, thermodynamics and mass transfer mechanism
(Elsiever, 2015-11) Gupta, Suresh; Maheshwari, Utkarsh
Present study deals with the development of a nano-porous adsorbent using neem bark for the simultaneous removal of Cu(II), Cr(VI) and Zn(II). The developed adsorbent is characterized using SEM, EDS and TGA. The effect of initial metal concentration, contact time, adsorbent dosage, temperature and pH are studied to see the performance of nANB for the metal ions removal. Various isotherm, kinetic and mass transfer models are validated with the experimental data and corresponding parameters are estimated. The maximum adsorption capacity of the developed adsorbent for Cu(II) and Zn(II) adsorption are found to be 21.23 and 11.904 mg g−1, respectively. The optimum parameter values for contact time, adsorbent dosage, temperature and pH are obtained as 48 h, 6 g L−1, 35 °C and 1.2, respectively, from the experimental results of Cu(II) and Zn(II) removal using nANB. The performance of nANB on the industrial effluent is evaluated by performing equilibrium batch experiments for the simultaneous removal of Cu(II), Cr(VI) and Zn(II) from an aqueous solution. The overall adsorption capacity of the nANB for the removal of multiple metal ions at 200 mg L−1 of each is obtained as 38.95 mg g−1 which is more than double for that obtained for individual metal ions.