Comparative studies on biosorption ability of metal oxide nanoparticles using marine micro and macro algae

A. Raj Manoj Reddy & Ankit Kumar Tiwari Sathyabama University

Biosorption
Biosorption is a physiochemical process that occurs naturally in certain biomass which allows it to passively concentrate and bind contaminants onto its cellular structure Biosorption of metal ions using biological materials such as algae, bacteria, fungal and yeast have received greater attention due to its advantages over conventional method (Arica et al., 2001). It has been defined as the property of biomass such as algae, bacteria, fungal and yeast to bind with metal ions from aqueous solutions (Dursun, 2006; Wang and Chen, 2006; Volesky, 2007). The major advantages of biosorption process over conventional technologies include (Kratochvil and Volesky, 1998; Ahalya et al., 2003):
Low cost High efficiency Minimization of sludge production Biosorbent can be regenerated and Possible of metals recovery

Objective
This study is being carried out with the following objectives: To study the effect of different parameters (pH,time & biomass concentration) on absorption of toxic metal nanoparticles by marine macro alga Kappaphycus alvarezii and micro algae Chlorella vulgaris , Scenedesmus. To study the equilibrium and kinetics of heavy metal oxide (ZnO and Fe2O3) removal by freely suspended and immobilized cells of K. alvarezii in batch system. To study the desorption /regeneration of metal ions from the immobilized biosorbent. To study the best biosorbent based on the percentage of uptake of the metal nanoparticle in three different forms viz., powdered biomass, liquid extract and carrier based seaweed biosorbents. To study the characterization of macro and microalgae before and after biosorption process.

Methodology
Biosorbents used
Macro algae- Kappaphycus alvarezii Micro algae Scenedesmus sp.

Parameter Optimization Effect of contact Time, pH and concentration of metal oxide solution Biosorption and Desorption of metal ions

Effect of time on absorbents for zinc and iron oxide

Effect of pH on absorbents -for zinc oxide

Effect of pH on absorbents - iron oxide

Biosorption and Desorption

Biosorption Desorption

250mg of dried biomass Added to 50ml metal oxide solution Agitation in a rotary shaker at 180rpm for 3 hrs Filtration Metal oxide quantification and further analysis

0.5g of treated biomass

Added to 0.1M HCL Agitation in rotary shaker at 150rpm for 1 hr

Filtration
Metal quantification

Characterization studies- Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy

Macro algae
PARAMETER Iron Oxide as Fe2O3 UNIT mg/l RESULT 12.32

Zinc Oxide as ZnO

mg/l

7.76

Micro algae
PARAMETER
Iron Oxide as Fe2O3 Zinc Oxide as ZnO

UNIT
mg/l mg/l

RESULT
13.7 0.25

Metal uptake capacity of seaweeds

Q= V (Ci - Cf)/S
Q - metal ion uptake capacity (mg/g) Ci= Initial metal concentration in the solution before the sorption analysis (mg/l) Cf =final concentration of metal in solution after the sorption analysis(mg/l) S =dry weight of biosorbent (g) V = solution volume (L) (Volesky, 2003).

Metal uptake capacity of seaweeds

Iron oxide
S. no 1 Seaweeds Kappaphycus alvarezii Biomass (g/L) 2.5 Concentration of metal (mg/g) 11.072

Scenedesmus sp.

2.5

10.52

Zinc oxide
S. no 1 2 Seaweeds Kappaphycus alvarezii Scenedesmus sp. Biomass (g/L) 2 2.5 Concentration of metal (mg/g) 16.12 15.9

SEM images of macro algae

Iron Oxide

Zinc oxide

SEM images of micro algae

Iron Oxide

Zinc Oxide

FT-IR Characterization of Macro algae

Control- Macro algae
Spectrum Name: IR-P-A.sp
100.0 95 90 85 80 75 70 65 60 55 50 %T
1482.92 2214.10 1263.54 831.85 1125.30 651.52 762.83 618.89 699.80 3760.73 2412.84 430.39 923.09

45
40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0.0 4000.0 3000 2000 cm-1 1500 1000 500 400.0
1572.03 1400.18 3399.52

FT-IR Characterization of Macro algae

Zinc Oxide- Macro algae
Spectrum Name: IR-P-B.sp
100.0 95 90 85 80 75 70 65 60 55
3402.44 2406.80 2168.34 1265.70 1126.53 834.59 651.34 761.87 706.16 3796.31 922.84

50 %T 45

40
35 30 25 20 15 10
1573.42 1397.48

5
0.0 4000.0 3000 2000 cm-1 1500 1000 500 400.0

FT-IR Characterization of Macro algae

Iron Oxide- Macro algae
Spectrum Name: IR-P-C.sp
100.0 95 90
2171.25 923.33 428.33 1262.41 1124.86 831.75 651.33 699.55 762.37 618.39

85 80

1482.11

75
70 65 60 55 50 %T 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0.0 4000.0 3000 2000 cm-1 1500
1572.35 1400.15 3400.99

1000

500 400.0

FT-IR Characterization of Micro algae

Control- Micro algae
Spectrum Name: IR-P-D.sp
100.0 95 90 85 80 75 70
2855.37 2926.97 1481.80 1121.34 1260.79 762.59 651.46 697.48 578.63 617.39 428.36 831.03 2170.27 924.53

65
60 55 50 %T 45 40 35 30
3396.37

25
20 15 10 5 0.0 4000.0 3000 2000 cm-1 1500
1571.72

1401.63

1000

500 400.0

FT-IR Characterization of Micro algae

Zinc Oxide- Micro algae
Spectrum Name: IR-P-E.sp
100.0 95 90
2169.84

85 80 75 70 65 60 55 50 %T
2925.29 2855.12 1119.84 1258.65 761.64 616.32 697.60 651.68 829.78 430.00

45
40 35 30
3395.04

25 20 15 10 5 0.0 4000.0 3000 2000 cm-1 1500

1571.18

1402.60

1000

500 400.0

FT-IR Characterization of Micro algae

Iron Oxide- Micro algae
Spectrum Name: IR-P-.sp
100.0 95 90
2256.37

85 80 75 70 65
1257.51 761.92 698.10 652.06 615.17 829.16

429.89

60
55 50 %T 45
2853.94 2922.89 1118.54

40
35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0.0 4000.0 3000 2000 cm-1 1500 1000 500 400.0
1570.56 3390.71 1402.89

Thank You