Algal biosorbent as a basic tool for heavy metals removal; the first step for further applications

Great attention has been received for heavy metal removal by algae due to their good performance, low cost and large available quantities. In the present work, Cu^2+ as an example of heavy metal ions was investigated for removal using two macro-algal biomasses Ulva fasciata and Sargassum dentifolium. The two algal biomasses were collected, washed, dried and grinded using ball mill to get micro- size powders. The prepared biosorbent materials were characterized using FT-IR (Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS). Adsorption experiments were performed at different parameters pH, contact time, biosorbents dose and initial Cu^2+ concentration. Furthermore, adsorption isotherms; Langmuir, Freundlich, Dubinin–Radushkevich and modeling kinetics were studied. The biosorption by both Ulva and Sargassum biosorbent materials achieved at pH 4, 30 and 60 minutes, respectively and 0.5 g/l biosorbent dose. The maximum adsorption capacities, according to Langmuir model, were achieved at 250 and 125 mg/g for Ulva and Sargassum biosorbent materials, respectively. The adsorption process followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Moreover, this work has represented one of the established papers that direct further work plans toward the application of the algal biosorbent for heavy metals removal.