Utilizing the Biosorbent Properties of Shiny Nose Fish (Polydactylus Quadrifilis) to Remove Nickel, Zinc and Copper Ions from Synthetic Wastewater

Abstract

This study investigates the production and optimization of a novel, low-cost biosorbent derived from the scales of the Nigerian shiny nose fish (Polydactylus quadrifilis) a fish species whose waste remains largely underexplored for environmental applications. The biosorbent was applied for the removal of nickel, zinc, and copper from synthetic wastewater. Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS) was used to measure metal removal in both batch and optimized biosorption processes. Batch biosorption was conducted at pH 5, using 1 g of biosorbent with a contact time of 60 minutes at 27°C. The biosorbent showed removal efficiencies of 71.2% for nickel, 82.2% for zinc, and 85.4% for copper. Optimization studies evaluated the effects of pH, temperature, contact time, and biosorbent dosage. The optimal pH for maximum removal was pH 6 for nickel and copper, and pH 7 for zinc. The highest removal efficiencies were 80.6% (nickel), 96.8% (zinc), and 98.2% (copper). The optimal dosage for all three metals was 10 g. Correlation analysis showed strong positive relationships (r = 0.799–0.992) between process parameters and biosorption efficiency. These findings establish Polydactylus quadrifilis fish scales as an effective and sustainable biosorbent with strong potential for wastewater treatment in resource-constrained settings.