The single batch biosorption of copper(II) ions on Sargassum

In this study, the biosorption of copper(II) ions to Sargassum acinarum, a brown seaweed, was investigated in a batch system. The optimum biosorption conditions were determined as initial pH 5.5, temperature 25 degrees C, initial copper(II) ion concentration 100mg/L and biosorbent concentration 1.0g/L. At the optimum biosorption conditions, the biosorption capacity of S. acinarum for copper(II) ions was found as 36.56mg/g algae. The Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models were applied to the biosorption data and the biosorption equilibrium was described well by the Langmuir isotherm model, with maximum biosorption capacity of 40.50mg/g (0.637mmol/g algae) of copper(II) ions. The intraparticle diffusion model and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model were applied to the experimental data in order to determine the removal mechanism and biosorption kinetic of copper(II) ions by S. acinarum. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model described very well the biosorption kinetic of copper(II) ions. Results showed that S. acinarum was an efficient biosorbent in the removal of copper(II) ions from an aqueous solution.