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This study exclusively focused on the potential application of an inexpensive and sustainable waste macro-algal biomass as an adsorbent for biosorption of copper ions from aqueous medium. After extraction of agar from brown macro-marine algaeGelidiella acerosa, the residual biomass without any further treatment was used as an adsorbent for the expulsion of copper from wastewater. Physicochemical parameters of biosorption like initial pH, initial concentration of Cu(II) solution and biosorbent dosage were optimized using response surface methodology. The maximum copper biosorption potential of 96.36% was observed at optimum conditions of pH of 5.31, initial concentration of 23.87 mg/l and biosorbent dosage of 0.41 g/l. Adopting FTIR and SEM techniques, the surface morphological features of biosorbent were studied. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model was found to be a proper approach to describe biosorption kinetics. All these results confirmed that spentG.acerosacould be considered as an efficient, eco-friendly and economic alternative for Cu(II) removal from aqueous solution.

The potential of using activated Ficus Hispida L. as a new biosorbent for the removal of lead from aqueous solution was investigated. The isotherms, kinetics of lead biosorption for F. Hispida L. were evaluated. The results indicate that equilibrium was established in about 30 min. The effect of the pH was examined in the range of 2–10. The maximum removal obtained is at pH value 6.1. The dosage and size parameters were also evaluated to get optimum biosorption of lead. The maximum biosorption capacity at 30°C is 32.42 mg/g. The effect of temperature has been carried out at 30, 35, 40, and 45°C. The data obtained from biosorption isotherms of lead at different temperatures fit to linear form of langmuir biosorption equation followed by Temkin and Freundlich equations. Biosorption kinetics data were modeled using the pseudo-first- and pseudo-second order and Elvoich equation models. The results indicate that the pseudo-second-order model best describes biosorption kinetic data. The thermodynamic pa...