Evaluation of Algae Marine Ulva lactuca for the Biosorption of Zn(II) from Aqueous Solutions

The kind of pollutants such as heavy metals, especially, can be removed from Industrial contaminated water by biological materials via biosorption. These heavy metals can be also recovered by adsorbents. The mentioned methods have more importance due to the advantages such as cheapness. In this study, the removal of Zinc (II) ions from industrial waste water using marine greenalgae Ulva lactucawas investigated. The effect of pH (3-7), biosorption time (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 120 min), biomass (0.5, 1 g) and metal ions concentration (50, 80, 100, 200 and 300 ppm), were considered. The maximum biosorption capacity was in solution initial concentration (100 mgl-1) Zinc (II) at pH=5.0 For rate reaction times (10, 20, 30, 60, 120 min) were selected. The amount of Zinc uptake was for 0.5 g biomass (45% , 49% , 52.3% , 54.6%, 56%, 59.5% and 63%) and 1 g biomass (54%, 56%, 58.3%, 60.6%, 62%, 63.5% and 74%) respectively. The most effective adsorption was for 1 g biomass 74% in pH=5.0 and initial concentration 100 mg l-1. Also the adsorption rate increases by increasing biomass weight. The equilibrium adsorption data are fitted to Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. Both the models represent the experimental data satisfactorily. The adsorption follows second order kinetic. Results indicate that using by greenalgae Ulva lactuca has good adsorbing character for removal of Zinc (II) in industrial contaminated water.