BIOSORPTION OF CU (II) FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTION

Abstract

Release of large quantities of heavy metals into the natural environment has resulted in a number of environmental problems. Copper, which is widely used and toxic in relatively low dosage, is one of the principal heavy metals responsible for causing these problems. The main anthropogenic pathway through which copper enters the environment is via wastes from many industries such as electroplating, alloy preparation, and textile manufacturing. Biosorption of heavy metals from aqueous solution is a relatively new technology for the treatment of industrial wastewater. It utilizes the ability of biological materials for effective removal and recovery of heavy metals. This method has been used for the removal of different metals and reported as cost-effective method in literature. In the present study, effort has been made to investigate the uptake capacity of non-living green algae spirogyra sp. for Cu (II). The parameters controlling the uptake, viz., initial metal ion concentration, adsorbent dose, the solution pH and contact time have been evaluated. The adsorption data of the metal ion has been analysed with the help of concentration factor and 70-75% removal was found at pH 5.5. This indicated that the biomass of green algae is suitable for the removal of copper ion from industrial wastewater. Key words — biosorption, green algae, copper ion, concentration factor