Biosorption of copper from aqueous solution using algal biomass

Sorption experiments using the dead biomass of Spirogyra species, for copper removal were carried out to study the influence and optimization of the biosorption of Cu(II). The effect of pH (1.0 - 10.0), initial metal ion concentration (1 - 100ppm), different contact periods (30 - 180 min), varying temperature (25 - 50 degreesC) and varying biomass quantities (0.5.1.0,1.5 and 2.0 g) were also examined. It was observed that Spirogyra species possessed better specific uptake capacities for Cu(II), showing approximate uptake of 34.94mg/g of biomass. Spirogyra species has shown much better sorption in the pH between 6.0 - 7.0 and at contact time of 30 min.