BIOREMEDIATION OF METAL IONS FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS USING ALGAE CLADOPHORA SP.Shareena Nazeer, Murtuza Ali Syed and Feroz ShaikAbstract The efficiency of Cladophora sp. algae, collected from wadi (channel) at Samail, Sultanate of Oman as a biosorbent for the removal of metallic ions from aqueous solutions was investigated. Fourier transform infrared spectrometer analysis (FTIR) showed the presence of carbonyl, ether, amine and alkyl chain stretch functional groups on Cladophora sp. algae. The point of zero charge (pHzpc) for the biosorbent was estimated at pH 7.22. pH increased with contact time and biomass showed higher adsorption capacity within first 24 hours. High metal concentration favors the adsorption of metal ions, calcium (Ca2+), copper (Cu2+) and magnesium (Mg2+) on to the surface of Cladophora sp. algae. Langmuirâsequilibrium isotherm model fitted slightly better with the adsorption data. Copper and magnesium metal ions found to have more affinity towards Cladophora sp. biomass than calcium ions. |