Adsorption Capacity of Lead (II) (Pb2+) in Aqueous Solution by Brown Seaweed (Fucus spiralis)
J. I. Bungudu *
Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Federal University Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, Nigeria.
Lorrie M. Murphy
Chemistry Unit, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Wales, United Kingdom.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The sorption uptake of lead by marine brown alga Fucus spiralis was investigated in bimetallic solutions. The experimental data fitted very well to Langmuir model. In bimetallic systems, the affinity of biomass for lead and cadmium increased and the sorption uptake of these metals was not affected by increasing concentrations. However, in solutions with both metals there was a significant mutual decrease of their sorption levels at high concentrations of the other metal. There is practical removal up to 100 ± 4% for biomass dosage 4.0 ±0.1 g which correspond to lowest adsorbed amount of 0.25 ± 0.1 mg/g. The highest adsorbed value was recorded with biomass dosage 0.25 ± 0.1 g but with the lowest percentage removal of 92.50 ± 6%. In this study at initial metal concentration of 10 mg/L the highest metal removal of 96% was achieved.
Keywords: Fucus spiralis, lead, absorption, biomass, brown seaweed