Natural seaweed waste as sorbent for heavy metal removal from solution

Abstract

Biosorption is a suitable heavy metal remediation technique for the treatment of aqueous effluents of large volume and low pollutant concentration. However, today industrial applications need the selection of efficient low-cost biosorbents. The aim of this work is to investigate brown alga such as Fucus serratus (FS) as a low-cost biosorbent, for the fixation of metallic ions, namely Cu(2+), Zn(2+), Pb(2+), Ni(2+), Cd(2+) and Ce(3+), in a batch reactor. Biosorption kinetics and isotherms have been performed at pH 5.5. For all of the studied metallic ions, the equilibrium time is about 450 min and a tendency based on the initial sorption rate has been established: Ce(3+) > Zn(2+) > Ni(2+) > Cu(2+) > Cd(2+) > Pb(2+). The adsorption equilibrium data are well described by the Langmuir equation. The sequence of the maximum adsorption capacity is Pb(2+) approximately equal Cu(2+) >> Ce(3+) approximately equal Ni(2+) > Cd(2+) > Zn(2+) and values are ranged between 1.78 and 0.71 mmol g(-1). These results indicate that the FS biomass is a suitable biosorbent for the removal of heavy metals from wastewater and can be tested in a dynamic process. The selected pilot process involves a hybrid membrane process: a continuous stirred tank reactor is coupled with a microfiltration immersed membrane, in order to confine the FS particles. A mass balance model is used to describe the adsorption process and the breakthrough curves are correctly modelled. Based on these results, it is demonstrated that FS is an interesting biomaterial for the treatment of water contaminated heavy metals.

Phycochemical Constituents and Biological Activities of Fucus spp.

“…since these belong to the Fucacea which is one of the most important biosorbent families from Phaeophyta [173]. Because of their inability to regulate the concentration of heavy metals in their tissues and also due to their tolerance to high external levels of such pollutants, seaweeds from this genus have been commonly used as bioindicators and bioremediators of heavy metal contaminated waters [174,175]. According to several authors, the content of As, Pb, Cd and Hg in F. vesiculosus growing in heavy metal contaminated waters may reach up to 73, 12, 10 and 2 mg/kg DW, respectively [176,177,178], representing 52, 2, 5 and 4 times more than the maximum permitted concentrations established for each element [179].…”

Optimization of production of extracellular polymeric substances byArthrobacter viscosusand their interaction with a 13X zeolite for the biosorption of Cr(VI)

“…The advantages and disadvantages of biosorption are known, as is its potential relative to the traditional methods of treatment of heavy metal-contaminated effluents. In this context, many studies have been performed using different biosorbent materials such as yeasts [1], algae [2,3], agricultural waste [4][5][6], bacteria [7,8] and biofilms [9][10][11][12][13]. It is generally accepted that a biosorption process involves several mechanisms, mainly ion exchange, chelation, adsorption and diffusion through cell walls and membranes; depending on the species used, the origin and the processing of the biomass and the solution chemistry of some will be more relevant than others.…”

Removal of Rare Earth Elements and Precious Metal Species by Biosorption

“…The major cell wall component involved in metal biosorption is the alginic acid. In this case three kinds of acidic functional groups with three intrinsic pK a were determined at 3.5, 8.2 and 9.6 corresponding respectively to the carboxylic (alginic acid) and phosphate moieties, amine functions and phenol groups (Ahmady-Asbchin et al 2009). …”