title: Comparative study on metal biosorption by two macroalgae in saline waters: single and ternary systems.
abstract: The biosorption capability of two marine macroalgae (green Ulva lactuca and brown Fucus vesiculosus) was evaluated in the removal of toxic metals (Hg, Cd and Pb) from saline waters, under realistic conditions. Results showed that, independently of the contamination scenario tested, both macroalgae have a remarkable capacity to biosorb Hg and Pb. In single-contaminant systems, by using only c.a. 500 mg of non-pre-treated algae biomass (size <200 μm) per litter, it was possible to achieve removal efficiencies between 96 and 99 % for Hg and up to 86 % for Pb. Despite the higher removal of Hg, equilibrium was reached more quickly for Pb (after 8 h). In multi-contaminant systems, macroalgae exhibited a similar selectivity toward the target metals: Hg > Pb> > Cd, although Pb removal by U. lactuca was more inhibited than that achieved by F. vesiculosus. Under the experimental conditions used, none of the macroalgae was effective to remove Cd (maximum removal of 20 %). In all cases, the kinetics of biosorption was mathematically described with success. Globally, it became clear that the studied macroalgae may be part of simple, efficient, and cost-effective water treatment technologies. Nevertheless, Fucus vesiculosus has greater potential, since it always presented higher initial sorption rates and higher removal efficiencies.
authors.affiliation: CESAM and Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Figueira
authors.affiliation: CESAM and Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal. brunogalinho@ua.pt.|CIIMAR, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental, Rua dos Bragas 289, 4050-123, Porto, Portugal. brunogalinho@ua.pt.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Henriques
authors.affiliation: CESAM and Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.affiliation: CIIMAR, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental, Rua dos Bragas 289, 4050-123, Porto, Portugal.|CICECO and Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Cláudia B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.affiliation: CESAM and Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.affiliation: CESAM and Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.|CIIMAR, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental, Rua dos Bragas 289, 4050-123, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Rui J R
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.affiliation: CESAM and Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.affiliation: CEF and Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pardal
authors.affiliation: CESAM and Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pereira
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D018533:Biomass; D002104:Cadmium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D044645:Fucus / Q000737:chemistry*; D007700:Kinetics; D007854:Lead / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008628:Mercury / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000068357:Saline Waters; D012624:Seaweed; D044445:Ulva / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D002104:Cadmium; D014867:Water; D007854:Lead; D008628:Mercury
keywords: Algae; Biosorption; Kinetic modelling; Metal removal; Ternary system; Water treatment