Algal sorbent derived from Sargassum horneri for adsorption of cesium and strontium ions: equilibrium, kinetics, and mass transfer

An algal sorbent derived from Sargassum horneri was prepared and used to adsorb cesium and strontium ions from aqueous solution. The phenomenological mathematical models associated to the predicted equilibrium isotherms were developed to determine the rate-limiting steps of the adsorption process. The maximum adsorption capacity of cesium ion and strontium ion was calculated to be 0.358 and 1.72 mmol g−1, respectively. The adsorption kinetics followed to the pseudo-second-order equation. It was found that adsorption of cesium or strontium ions onto the active sites of the biosorbent was the rate-limiting step. In addition, the external mass transfer and the internal mass transfer cannot be neglected for the adsorption of strontium ion based on the error analysis. The functional groups relevant to the adsorption were carboxyl and sulfate groups.