The present study tested whether the presence of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) (Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Hg and Ni), commonly found in wastewaters, interferes with the ability of macroalgae (Ulva intestinalis, Ulva lactuca, Fucus spiralis, Fucus vesiculosus, Gracilaria sp. and Osmundea pinnatifida) to remove rare earth elements (REEs) (La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy and Y), which are key elements for most high technologies (e.g. electronics, aerospace, renewable energy). Results proved the high capacity of living macroalgae to remove REEs from multielement solutions, with the following sequence of bioconcentration factors being observed: U. intestinalis (2790) > Gracilaria sp. (2119) > O. pinnatifida (1742) > U. lactuca (1548) > F. vesiculosus (944) > F. spiralis (841). Competition among REEs to sorption sites on the six macroalgae was minor due to the chemical similarities between the elements. However, Ce and Y were the less removed while Gd, La and Eu the most removed among REEs. Ionic strength was an important factor in the sorption process, with salinity affecting differently the six macroalgae. Surprisingly, the presence of potential toxic elements in solution enhanced the removal of REEs. The most plausible explanation is the preferentially complexation of those elements by carbonates over REEs, which facilitates the binding of REEs cations onto the surface of macroalgae.
Keywords: Bioremediation; Potentially toxic elements; Rare earth elements; Recovery; Seaweeds; Wastewaters.
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