Evaluation of the biosorption performance of marine green algae biomass (Ulva Lactuca Sp.) in the removal of inorganic pollutants

Contamination of water sources with inorganic pollutants (cations or anions) is still a serious environmental problem, for which solutions are still being sought. Therefore, finding a biosorbent that can retain both cations and anions represents a solution to this problem. In addition, if such a biosorbent has a low preparation cost, its use in decontamination processes is recommended. Based on these considerations, in this study, marine green algae biomass (Ulva lactuca sp.) was used as a biosorbent for the removal of Cu(II) (inorganic cation) and
HPO42- (inorganic anion) from aqueous media. The experiments were conducted in batch systems, as a function of the initial concentration of each inorganic ion, at constant pH (6.53), biosorbent dosage (4.0 g⋅L-1), contact time (1440 min), and temperature (20 ± 2°C). The maximum biosorption capacities obtained from
Langmuir model under these experimental conditions, was 11.44 mg⋅g-1 for Cu(II) ions and 7.45 mg⋅g-1 for HPO42- ions, respectively. FTIR spectrometry, SEM microscopy, and potentiometric and conductometric titration were used for the characterization of the algae biomass. The structural particularities highlighted
by these methods, show that this type of biomass has functional groups on its surface that can interact both with cations and anions from aqueous media. Therefore, its use as a biosorbent in decontamination processes is a viable solution.