BIOSORPTION OF COPPER(II) FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTION BY NON-LIVING Spirogyra sp.

The biosorption of Cu(II) by a dried green alga Spirogyra sp. was investigated. Optimal initial pH for Cu(II) sorption was found to be 4. The uptake of Cu(II) by algal biomass is very rapid in the initial contact time of 10 minutes. Metal uptake capacity of Spirogyra sp. was found to be increasing with increase in initial metal ion concentrations. When the initial Cu(II) concentration was increased from 10 to 100 mg/L, metal uptake of biomass increased from 6.2 to 23.9 mg/g of biomass. The experimental data fitted well in both the Freundlich and Langmuir Isotherms(R 2 >0.9819). Qmax obtained from the Langmuir Isotherms was found to be 28.7 mg/g of biomass.