Comparison between biosorbents for the removal of metal ions from aqueous solutions

This study compared the ability of a brown seaweed Ecklonia maxima, a dealginated seaweed waste, alginate fibre and waste Linseed fibre to remove copper. nickel and cadmium from single and mixed metal ion solutions. All experiments were conducted using metal ion solutions of 10 mg/litre in concentration. The study has shown that alginate fibre generally exhibited the best overall metal ion uptake and cadmium ions were the most effectively sequestered by these biosorbents. The study indicates that the uptake of these metal ions is selective once saturation of the biosorbent has been achieved, with copper ions being adsorbed in preference to cadmium and nickel ions. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.