Biosorption of Direct Yellow 12 from aqueous solution using green alga Ulva lactuca

The potential of commonly available green alga Ulva lactuca was investigated as viable biomaterials for removal of synthetic azo dye (Direct Yellow 12, DY-12) from aqueous solution. The results obtained from the batch experiments revealed that the ability of the U. lactuca to remove DY-12 from its aqueous solution was dependent on the dye concentration, pH, and algal biomass but less dependent on the particle size of the U. lactuca. The equilibrium conditions and kinetics of adsorption were investigated, and the adsorption kinetic was consistent with the pseudo-second-order model (R-2 = 1). The adsorption isotherm followed only the Freundlich model with a correlation coefficient R-2 = 0.99. This study demonstrated that the U. lactuca could be used as an effective biosorbent for the removal of DY-12 from its aqueous solution.