Biosorption of lead by the brown seaweed Sargassum filipendula - batch and continuous pilot studies

• Published in: Electronic Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 10; no. 3
• Main Authors: Vieirao, Denise Mesquita, da Costa, Antonio Carlos Augusto, Henriques, Cristiane Assumpção, Cardoso, Vicelma Luiz, de França, Francisca Pessôa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidad Católica de Valparaíso 15-07-2007
• Subjects: biosorption, biosorption equilibrium, continuous system, lead, Sargassum filipendula; Sargassum filipendula
• ISSN: 0717-3458; 0717-3458
• DOI: 10.2225/vol10-issue3-fulltext-3

The biosorption of lead by the brown alga Sargassum filipendula was
studied. pH 4.0 was the optimum value for the biosorption of lead.
Isotherms indicated that for solutions containing 0.03 ± 0.001 up
to 3.27 ± 0.04 mmol/L of lead, 2.0g/L was the optimum biomass
concentration. The Langmuir model was fitted to represent the
experimental data, and the kinetics of biosorption presented
equilibrium in 30 min. The continuous system operated for 56 hrs
presenting a 100% binding of ionic lead, which corresponds to an
accumulation of 168 g lead, equivalent to a load of 1.7 mmol ionic
lead/g Sargassum filipendula. The results that were obtained in a
continuous system showed a gradual saturation of the biomass in the
reactors.