REMOVAL OF CU2+ IONS FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS USING NANNOCHLOROPSIS OCULATA BIOMASS

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the capacity of Nannochloropsis oculata biomass for Cu2+ ions removal from aqueous solutions. The initial concentrations of Cu2+ ions used to determine the maximum amount of Cu2+ ions adsorbed onto Nannochloropsis oculata biomass varied from 10 mg/L to 50 mg/L. The experimental data were analysed using Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin-Radushkevisch isotherm models. The correlation regression coefficients show that the biosorption process can be well defined by the Langmuir equation. From the Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm the mean free energy was calculated to be 10 kJ/mol, which indicates that Cu2+ ions biosorption is characterized by a chemical process.

Keywords

• biosorption, Cu2+, equilibrium, isotherm models, Nannochloropsis oculata