Biosorption of nickel(II) and copper(II) ions from synthetic and real effluents by alginate-based biosorbent produced from seaweed Sargassum sp

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2019-04, Vol.26 (11), p.11100-11112
• Main Authors: Barquilha, Carlos E. R., Cossich, Eneida S., Tavares, Célia R. G., da Silva, Edson A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adsorption; Algae; Alginates; Alginates - chemistry; Alginic acid; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Biosorption; Calcium; Calcium ions; Copper; Copper - chemistry; Copper compounds; Desorption; Diffusion; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Effluents; Electroplating; Eluents; Endothermic reactions; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental science; Heavy metals; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Ion exchange; Ionic strength; Ions; Isotherms; Kinetics; Light metals; Metal concentrations; Nickel; Nickel - chemistry; Organic chemistry; Parameters; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Plating; Research Article; Sargassum; Sargassum - chemistry; Seaweed - chemistry; Seaweeds; Sorption; Temperature; Thermodynamics; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-04552-0

In this study, the alginate-based biosorbent produced from seaweed Sargassum sp. was used in biosorption of Ni 2+ and Cu 2+ ions from synthetic solutions and real electroplating effluents. Biosorption kinetics, isotherms, pH effect, thermodynamic parameters, and sorption/desorption cycles were also evaluated. Kinetic studies show the sorption equilibrium can be obtained within 180 min for Ni 2+ ions and 360 min for Cu 2+ ions, and the adsorption kinetics data are well described by the pseudo-second order and diffusion in spherical adsorbents. Langmuir model can be well used to describe the biosorption isotherm data. The maximum sorption capacity ( q max ) and Langmuir constant ( b ) were up to 1.147 mmol g −1 and 1.139 L mmol - 1  for Ni 2+ ions and 1.640 mmol g −1 and 4.645 L mmol - 1 for Cu 2+ ions. The calculated thermodynamic parameters (ΔG°, ΔH°, and ΔS°) showed that the biosorption of Ni 2+ and Cu 2+ ions are predominantly a chemical phenomenon of endothermic nature, favorable, and spontaneous at the temperature ranges of 293–313 K. Partial desorption of the Ni 2+ and Cu 2+ ions on the biosorbent was achieved using acidic and saline eluents, allowing the biosorbent to be used in new sorption/desorption cycles. EDX analysis suggests an ion exchange mechanism between calcium ions on the biosorbent and target metals. Biosorption of Ni 2+ and Cu 2+ from real electroplating effluents with high concentrations of light metals becomes highly competitive, decreasing the amount of Ni 2+ and Cu 2+ ions biosorbed due to the ionic strength effect.