Biosorption of some heavy metals from Textile Wastewater by Green Seaweed Biomass.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of green seaweed biomass to remove heavy metals such as iron (Fe), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), silver (Ag) and chromium (Cr) present in textile wastewater. The wastewater sample was treated with the biomass at different contact time ranging from 10 to 90 minutes. The result showed that there was 87.5%, 99.9 %, 59.7 %, 57.2 %, 100% and 86.8% corresponding maximum reduction in the concentration of Fe, Ca, Mg, K, Ag and Cr at 60 min contact time, respectively. The experimental biosorption data fitted very well to both pseudo first-order and pseudo second-order kinetic models, however, the biosorpton kinetics of Fe, Ca, Mg, K, Ag and Cr followed a pseudo first-order kinetic model and the biosorption mechanisms were controlled by boundary layer surface diffusion. Thus green seaweed biomass has the potential to be used as a low cost biosorbent for the treatment of industrial wastewater that contains the presence of heavy metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]