Removal of lead and cadmium ions from water using cladophora biomass

Abstract

Cladophora biomass has been treated and used for the removal of Lead and Cadmium ions from water, and the characterization of Cladophora biomass by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and energydispersive x-ray analysis (EDS) indicate the presence of functional groups of different components such as polysaccharides, amino acids, fatty acids and others. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and surface area analysis (BET) confirm nonporous algal biomass with small surface area. The parameters affecting metal ions removal from water such as adsorbent-solution contact time, pH of metal ion solution, algal biomass dose and mesh sizes have been studied. Isothermal study has been applied using Freundlich and Langmuir models.