Biosorption of Cd2+ and Cu2+ from aqueous solution using Gracilaria corticata waste biomass

Pollution of aquatic environments by toxic trace metals has been taking place because of discharge of untreated effluents from many industrial processes. Conventional methods used for removing dissolved heavy metal ions from wastewaters have significant disadvantages including incomplete metal removal, requirements for expensive equipment, high energy requirements and generation of toxic sludge or other waste products that require disposal. In the present study, G. corticata algae waste biomass was investigated from aqueous solutions the removal of cadmium and copper, and the effects of different parameters such as pH, the initial concentration of pollutants, adsorbent dosage and contact time were studied. The results show that the Maximum uptake capacity for cadmium metal was in pH 6, metal concentration 10 mg/L, biomass 0.4 g/L and contact time 80 min and copper metal were in pH 5, metal concentration 10 mg/L, biomass 0.4 g/L and contact time 40 min. The study equilibrium results, for both metal, followed the isotherm data fitted to Langmuir with Correlation Coefficient (R2) 0.98 for cadmium and 0.97 for copper. The maximum capacities (qmax) were for cadmium 197.4 mg/g and copper 194.4mg/g. Therefore, G. corticata algae waste biomass suggested as suitable biosorbent to remove heavy metals from cadmium and copper-polluted aquatic ecosystem.