Potential use of green algae as a biosorbent for hexavalent chromium removal from aqueous solutions

Abstract

The hexavalent chromium Cr(VI) poses a threat as a hazardous metal and its removal from aquatic environments through biosorption has gained attention as a viable technology of bioremediation. We evaluated the potential use of three green algae (Cladophora glomerata, Enteromorpha intestinalis and Microspora amoena) dry biomass as a biosorbent to remove Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions. The adsorption capacity of the biomass was determined using batch experiments. The adsorption capacity appeared to depend on the pH. The optimum pH with the acid-treated biomass for Cr(VI) biosorption was found to be 2.0 at a constant temperature, 45 °C. Among the three genera studied, C. glomerata recorded a maximum of 66.6% removal from the batch process using 1.0 g dried algal cells/100 ml aqueous solution containing an initial concentration of 20 mg/L chromium at 45 °C and pH 2.0 for 60 min of contact time. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm equations fitted to the equilibrium data, Freundlich was the better model. Our study showed that C. glomerata dry biomass is a suitable candidate to remove Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions.

Bioprocessing strategies for cost-effective simultaneous removal of chromium and malachite green by marine alga Enteromorpha intestinalis

“…The highest removal efficiency of both MG and chromium was obtained using 4.3 g/L of Enteromorpha biomass concentration. A highest removal of chromium was 66.6% when using 1.0 g of the dried alga, Cladophora glomerata, /100 mL aqueous solutions contains 20 mg/L chromium 32 . The highest chromium removal percentage (99.75%) by dry alga, Chlorella vulgaris, was obtained using 60 mg/50 mL solutions (1.2 g/L) 70 .…”

“…The chromium concentrations are the most important factors that impact of chromium removal by algae, so chromium removal was decreased by increasing chromium concentrations due to the Chlorella cells was degraded 40,41 . Al-Homaidan et al 32 reported that the removal rate of chromium increase for initial concentrations of chromium in range 10 to 20 mg/L but decrease above this level due to binding sites saturation. The numerous number of chromium ions was competing with the binding sites of the algal biomass 42 .…”

“…Al-Homaidan et al . 32 compared between various biosorbent including Enteromorpha for the removal of Cr (VI), they reported that the Enteromorpha was the best effective biosorbent for hexavalent chromium ions from aqueous solution.…”

“…Dry biomasses of some algae such as Cladophora glomerata, Enteromorpha intestinalis and Microspora amoena have been used as biosorbent to eliminate Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions. Al-Homaidan et al 32 compared between various biosorbent including Enteromorpha for the removal of Cr (VI), they reported that the Enteromorpha was the best effective biosorbent for hexavalent chromium ions from aqueous solution.…”

Hydroclathrus clathratus as anti-damaging agent against lung injury in male albino rats

“…Today, in addition to the conventional wisdom, it is known undoubtedly that many of the resulting compounds of algae from secondary metabolism act as stimulators of the primary metabolism of the person who ingests it, stimulating the activity of certain endocrine glands, blood circulation, exchanges of mineral elements, and the physiological elimination of toxins. Due to recent studies in this area of knowledge, several of these compounds were characterized, and their respective pharmacological properties were determined-cholesterol reducers, anticoagulants (important in the prevention of stroke), antimicrobials, antitumor, antiviral, anthelmintics, anti-inflammatory, antacids, growth regulators, immunoregulatory, etc [16][17][18].…”