Physicochemical characterisation of the ubiquitous bracken fern as useful biomaterial for preconcentration of heavy metals.

Batch experiments with dry bracken fern have been done to determine cadmium and lead sequestering capacity of this biomaterial. Biomass characterisation was done by infrared spectroscopy and potentiometric analysis. The effect of pH of the metal containing solution, contact time and initial metal concentration has been studied, together with the acid-base properties of the biomaterial.