Open AccessAdsorption Equilibria of Cadmium on Algal Biomass
Author(s) -
Mohd Ali Hashim,
Khim Hoong Chu,
SiewMoi Phang,
Ong Gerard
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
adsorption science and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.682
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 2048-4038
pISSN - 0263-6174
DOI - 10.1177/026361749701500605
Subject(s) - chemistry , adsorption , cadmium , biomass (ecology) , zeta potential , chlorella vulgaris , protonation , environmental chemistry , inorganic chemistry , chromatography , chemical engineering , ion , algae , organic chemistry , botany , ecology , biology , nanoparticle , engineering
Adsorption equilibria of cadmium on the non-living algal biomass of Chlorella vulgaris were studied using batch stirred-tank methods. The adsorption process was rapid, achieving equilibrium in a few minutes. Environmental factors such as pH, biomass dosage and buffer concentration had a considerable influence on the equilibrium isotherms. The adsorption capacity of the biomass increased with increasing pH. This behaviour was attributed to decreased protonation of the binding sites and decreased competition for binding between the cadmium ions and protons with increasing pH. The equilibrium data measured at different pH values were consistent with the influence of pH on the zeta potentials of the biomass, indicating that the dominant binding mechanism is likely to involve electrical attractions.