Tamilselvan N » Публикация

Аннотация Occupational exposure of heavy metals and toxins has been shown to produce adverse health effects on humans. Biosorption has emerged as a cost$effective and efficient alternative technology for removal of heavy metals. In the present study the biosorption of heavy metals by an algal species, Acanthophora spicifera was evaluated. Acid digestion method and batch biosorption method was used to evaluate the efficiency of bisorption by A. spicifera. The effect of biomass dosage of A. spicifera (1$30g/L) on biosorption of metal ions Cr (VI), Cr (III), Pb (II), Cd (II) and Hg (II) was also studied. Acid digestion method showed maximum biosorption of Pb (II) (93.61%) whereas the batch biosorption method showed maximum biosorption of Cr (VI) (96.36%) followed by Hg (II) (96.20%), Cd (II) (92.68%), Pb (II) (51.84%), and Cr (III) (50.29%) in the order of (Cr (VI) >Hg (II) >Cd (II) >Pb (II) >Cr (III). The biosorption was biomass dosage dependent and increase of biomass increased the biosorption process. The maximum biosorption of the metal ions was attained at a biomass dosage of 25g/L. Fourier transform infrared absorption spectra indicated the chemical interactions between the hydrogen atoms of carboxyl (–COOH), hydroxyl (–CHOH) and amine (–NH2) groups of biomass with metal ions. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the enlargement size and surface modification of biomass. The results of our study suggest that seaweed biomass can be used efficiently for biosorption of heavy metals.