الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract This study investigated the biosorption of Pb2+ and Cd2+ ions from aqueous solution and industrial wastewater by locally- marine macroalgae, Sargassum latifolium (brown macroalgae) and Ulva lactuca (green macroalga) as a low-cost adsorbent. The surface characteristics and biosorption mechanisms of the dry algae before and after the adsorption of metal ions were examined using scanning electron microscope and Fourier Transformed Infrared (FTIR). The algal biomass exhibited acaves-like, uneven surface texture along with lot of irregular surface. FTIR analysis of the algae biomass revealed the presence of hydroxyl, amino and carboxyl group which were responsible for adsorption of Pb2+ and Cd2+. The influences of pH, contact time, temperature, amount of biosorbents, initial metal ion concentration and effect of light metals were studied in batch experiment. The maximum Pb2+ and Cd2+ percentage removal of about 90.76% and 98.87% by S. latifolium and 95.07% and 99.15% by U. lactuca was achieved, respectively, in aqueous solutions of pH 5.5 and at the optimal other experimental conditions (temperature, amount of biosorbent, initial metal ion concentration, and shaking time of 30 oC, 0.1 g, 10 mg /L and 120 min, respectively). The results indicated that the biosorption of metal ions was reduced by the presence of Ca2+, Mg2+ and Na+. The applications of algae to remove pb2+ and Cd2+ ions from wastewater and seawater were also carried out under optimization conditions. |