Title: Cr(III) uptake by marine algal biomass: equilibrium and kinetics

Authors: Vítor J.P. Vilar; Olga M.M. Freitas; Pedro M.S. Costa; Cidalia M.S. Botelho; Ramiro J.E. Martins; Rui A.R. Boaventura

Addresses: Laboratory of Separation and Reaction Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal. ' Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Rua Dr. Antonio Bernardino de Almeida, 431, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal. ' Hydrological Quality Centre of the Health National Institute, Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Largo 1 de Dezembro, 4049-019 Porto, Portugal. ' Laboratory of Separation and Reaction Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal. ' Department of Chemical and Biological Technology, Polytechnic Institute of Braganca, Campus de Santa Apolonia, Apartado 1134, 5301-857 Braganca, Portugal. ' Laboratory of Separation and Reaction Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal

Abstract: In this work, biosorption of Cr(III) by the marine brown algae Sargassum muticum was studied in a batch system. Kinetics and equilibrium experiments were conducted at different pH. Equilibrium data are well described by the Langmuir and Langmuir-Freundlich isotherms. The two mass transfer models give comparable results, but they did not provide a perfect representation of the sorption data. Sargassum muticum was compared with the brown algae Laminaria hyperborean and the red algae Gelidium sesquipedale, showing maximum uptake capacities of, 56 ± 3, 70 ± 4 and 18 ± 1 mg Cr(III) g^-1, at pH = 5, respectively.

Keywords: Sargassum; Gelidium; Laminaria; equilibrium; kinetics; marine algae; biomass; mass transfer; modelling; trivalent chromium.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2011.042639

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2011 Vol.8 No.3/4, pp.325 - 340

Published online: 24 Jan 2015 *

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