Biosorption of mercury from aqueous solution by Ulva lactuca biomass

• Published in: Bioresource technology 2003-12, Vol.90 (3), p.349-351
• Main Authors: Zeroual, Youssef, Moutaouakkil, Adnane, Zohra Dzairi, Fatima, Talbi, Mohamed, Ung Chung, Park, Lee, Kangmin, Blaghen, Mohamed
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adsorption; Biological and medical sciences; Biomass; Biosorption; Chlorophyta; Fixed-bed column; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Kinetics; Mercury - chemistry; Mercury - isolation & purification; Mercury removal; Sulfuric Acids - chemistry; Ulva - chemistry; Ulva lactuca; Water Pollutants - isolation & purification; Water Purification - methods
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/S0960-8524(03)00122-6

The mercury biosorption onto non-living protonated biomass of Ulva lactuca, as an alternative method for mercury removal from aqueous solutions, was investigated. Batch equilibrium tests showed that at pH 3.5, 5.5 and 7 the maxima of mercury uptake values, according to Langmuir adsorption isotherm, were 27.24, 84.74 and 149.25 mg/g, respectively. The ability of Ulva lactuca biomass to adsorb mercury in fixed-bed column, was investigated as well. The influence of column bed height, flow rate and effluent initial concentration of metal was studied. The adsorbed metal ions were easily desorbed from the algal biomass with 0.3 N H 2SO 4 solution. After acid desorption and regeneration with distilled water, the biomass could be reused for other biosorption assays with similar performances.