Original Articles: 2011 Vol: 3 Issue: 2
The removal of heavy metal chromium (VI) from aqueous solution by using marine algae Graciliria edulis
Abstract
The preparation of activated carbon (AC) from marine algae is a promising way to produce a useful
adsorbent for Chromium (VI) removal from aqueous solution. The AC was prepared using marne algae
Graciliria edulis with con H2SO4 and physico-chemical properties of AC were investigated. The
specific surface area of the activated carbon was determined and its properties studied by scanning
electron microscopy (SEM). Adsorptive removal of Chromium(VI) from aqueous solution onto AC
prepared from marine algae has been studied under varying conditions of agitation time, metal
ion concentration, adsorbent dose and pH to assess the kinetic and equilibrium parameters.
Adsorption equilibrium was obtained in 180min for 10 to 50 mg/L of Chromium(VI) concentrations.
The Langmuir, Freundlich and DKR equilibrium isotherm models were found to provide an excellent
fitting of the adsorption data. In Freundlich equilibrium isotherm, the r2 values obtained were in the
range of 0.2 to 1 (0.9698 to 0.7204) for Chromium(VI) concentration of 10 to 60mg/L, which
indicates favorable adsorption of Chromium(VI) onto marine algae carbon. The adsorption capacity of
Chromium(VI) 98.37%. The percent removal maximum in pH1. This adsorbent was found to be
effective and economically attractive.