Equilibrium and kinetic studies of Cd²⁺ biosorption by the brown algae Sargassum fusiforme

PLoS One. 2014 Apr 15;9(4):e95242. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0095242. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

A fundamental investigation of the biosorption of Cd2+ from aqueous solution by the edible seaweed Sargassum fusiforme was performed under batch conditions. The influences of experimental parameters, such as the initial pH, sorption time, temperature, and initial Cd2+ concentration, on Cd2+ uptake by S. fusiforme were evaluated. The results indicated that the biosorption of Cd2+ depended on the initial Cd2+ concentration, as well as the pH. The uptake of Cd2+ could be described by the Langmuir isotherm model, and both the Langmuir biosorption equilibrium constant and the maximum biosorption capacity of the monolayer decreased with increasing temperature, thereby confirming the exothermic character of the sorption process. The biosorption kinetics follows the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, and intraparticle diffusion is the sole rate-limiting step for the entire biosorption period. These fundamental equilibrium and kinetic results can support further studies to the removal of cadmium from S. fusiforme harvested from cadmium-polluted waters.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Absorption, Physicochemical
  • Biological Transport
  • Cadmium / metabolism*
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Kinetics
  • Sargassum / metabolism*
  • Temperature
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / metabolism*

Substances

  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Cadmium

Grants and funding

This material is based upon work funded by China Natural Science Foundation (31270541)(http://www.nsfc.gov.cn/publish/portal0/default.htm), Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (LQ13C030005)(http://www.zjnsf.gov.cn/), Plan for Qianjiang Talent of Zhejiang (QJD1202014) and Program for Wenzhou Science & Technology Innovative Research Team of China (C20120007-08). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.