Biosorption of Cu (Ii) and Ni (Ii) ions from aqueous solution by marine brown algae Sargassum angustifolium

Abstract

This study focused on the batch removal of Cu2+ and Ni2+ ions from an aqueous solution and wastewater using marine brown algae Sargassum angustifolium. With high capacities of metal biosorption and desorption, the biomass of S. angustifolium is promising as a cost-effective biosorbent for the removal of Cu2+ and Ni2+ from aqueous solution. According to X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS); the possible organic functional groups in the metal binding include carboxyl, amino, sulfhydryl and sulfonate groups. Langmuir, isotherm model were applied to describe the biosorption of the Cu2+ and Ni2+onto S. angustifolium biomass. The maximum uptake of Cu2+ and Ni2+ ions by the S. angustifolium biomass under the optimal conditions was approximately 0.94 and 0.78 mmol/g dry alga respectively. According to result biomass of S. angustifolium could be used as an effective biosorbent for the treatment of Cu2+ containing aqueous solution.