INQUIMAE   12526
INSTITUTO DE QUIMICA, FISICA DE LOS MATERIALES, MEDIOAMBIENTE Y ENERGIA
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
congresos y reuniones científicas
Título:
Biosorption of copper and lead by marine green alga Ulva Lactuca in a packer column
Autor/es:
ARECO MARIA DEL MAR; DOS SANTOS AFONSO MARIA
Lugar:
Washington DC USA
Reunión:
Congreso; 11th Annual Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference; 2007
Resumen:
In previous works we have demonstrated the efficiency of the green algae Ulva lactuca in the biosorption process. Heavy metals are major pollutants in marine, ground, industrial, and even treated waters. Biosorption, known as sorption of heavy metals onto biological materials, is becoming a potential alternative for the removal of toxic metals. Ulva sp., known as sea lettuce, is a very common alga found in the Atlantic coast. Ulva lactuca, cadmium, and lead were chosen to be evaluated in our study. Glass columns (10 cm of longitude and 3 mm of diameter) were filled with 10 mg of algae. Ten ml of Cd(II) and/or Pb(II) (50 mg l-1) solutions were pumped through different columns at constant flow rate with a peristaltic pump (Gilson). The samples were collected at different intervals of time and analyzed to determine the metal concentration in solution. Once concluded the process the columns were washed with a H2SO4 solution (10-3 M) and then the columns were reused in the biosorption process. The samples were filtered and the metal concentrations were determined with ion-selective electrodes for each one of the metals. In the column biosorption assays, a rapid trace metal uptake was observed, as it is shown for lead biosorption in Figure 1. The amount of metal biosorbed by the algae increased as the metal solutions were pumped. After being washed with sulfuric acid, the columns were successfully reused in the biosorption process