Bioremediation of Fe, Zn and Cd ions from aqueous solution using died cells of cyanobacterial mats from extreme habitat, Siwa Oasis, Egypt.

H. H. Ali, Mohamed; S. Abd Elkarim, Mohamed; A. Haroun, Samia; M. Attwa, Khadija

doi:10.21608/ejabf.2019.25914

Bioremediation of Fe, Zn and Cd ions from aqueous solution using died cells of cyanobacterial mats from extreme habitat, Siwa Oasis, Egypt.

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

10.21608/ejabf.2019.25914

Abstract

The ability of microbial cyanobacterial mats naturally grown in the extreme habitat in western desert, for removing heavy metals from its aqueous solution were studied. SEM, EDX, FTIR and surface area examinations of well fine dry dead cell of two different mats were carried out to demonstrate the physical characterizations of the biosorbent surface. The results showed that the mats characterized by high surface area, porous diameter and cracks. The dry dead cells of two mats were used to remove Zn⁺², Fe⁺² and Cd⁺² ions from its aqueous solution under specific conditions; different pH, biosorbent dosage, contacts time and initial metals concentrations. The optimum removal efficiency of metals reached at pH = 6, 150 min contact time and 2.5 g/L biosrbent dose. Isotherms studies showed that Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherm models were well fitted for the adsorption process. The removal of studied metals ions following the order of Zn²⁺ > Fe²⁺ > Cd²⁺ according to values of maximum biosorption capacities (q_max), Langmuir constant (b), separation factor (R_L) and Freundlich intensity parameter (1/n).

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