Biosorption of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate by seaweed biomass

• Published in: Journal of applied phycology Vol. 16; no. 4; pp. 263 - 274
• Main Authors: CHAN, H. W, LAU, T. C, ANG, P. O, WU, M, WONG, P. K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01.08.2004
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on plants and fungi; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Marine; Natural water pollution; Pollution; Sargassum; Sargassum siliquastrum; Seawaters, estuaries; Water treatment and pollution; ISEW, China, People's Rep., Hong Kong; China, People's Rep., Hong Kong; Removal; Heterokontophyta; di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP); Biosorption; Algae; Adsorption isotherm; seaweed; Benzenic compound; Desorption; Sargassum; Phaeophyceae; Thallophyta
• ISSN: 0921-8971; 1573-5176
• DOI: 10.1023/B:JAPH.0000047778.93467.af

Samples of various Sargassum species were collected in the Hong Kong marine environment and used for studies on biosorption of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP). Batch adsorption experiments were carried out to determine the removal capacity and removal efficiency of the biosorbents. The DEHP removal ability was similar among beached seaweed and three freshly collected Sargassum species. Different physico-chemical factors were evaluated in order to enhance the performance of the biosorbents. Under optimized conditions (25 mg biomass, initial pH 4, 25 degree C, 40 mg L super(-1) DEHP), the mean removal capacity of beached seaweed and Sargassum siliquastrum was 5.68 and 6.54 mg g super(-1), respectively. Examination of the Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms showed that the biosorption phenomenon by these biosorbents could well be described by these models. Desorption of DEHP was also assessed with methanol, which showed the most satisfactory desorbing ability. Further study in multiple adsorption-desorption of DEHP by the biosorbents demonstrated the reusability of both beached seaweed and S. siliquastrum for biosorption of DEHP.