Removal of copper(II) from aqueous solution by non-livingOscillatoria sp.

The performance of dried green alga Oscillatoria sp. to remove Cu(II) from aqueous solution was investigated as a biosorbent.The non-living algal biomass was found to remove copper ions efficiently.The rate of biosorption was affected by contact time, pH, initial copper ion concentration and temperature.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.Metal uptake capacity was observed to be increasing with an increase in initial metal ion concentrations.Temperature has a positive effect on the biosorption of the copper by Oscillatoria sp.The experimental data fitted well in both the Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms (R2>0.98).Q max obtained from the Langmuir isotherms was found to be 36.2mg/g.The sorbed copper ions were effectively desorbed using 0.1N HCl.