Characteristic of Biosorption of Chromium(III) and

Chromium(VI) by green algae Spirogyra subsalsa Biomass

Mawardi 1), Edison Munaf 2), Soleh Kosela 3), Widayanti Wibowo3)

1) Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Science,

State University Padang, Padang 25131, Indonesia
2) Laboratory of Analytical Environmental Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Science,
Andalas University, Padang 25163, Indonesia
3) Laboratory of Biochemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Science,
Indonesia University, Depok 16424, Indonesia

Abstract

Characteristic of biosorption of chromium(III) and chromium(VI) by green algae

Spirogyra subsalsa sp. biomass was investigated in a batch system. The
biosorption capacity of the alga strongly depends on solution pH, the maximum
sorption of Cr3+ cations was seen at pH 4,0 and than constant at the higher pH.
Biosorption of Cr6+, exist as Cr2O72- anion, decrease by increase of solution pH.
Also, increasing the metals concentration increased the final metal uptake. At a
sufficiently high cations concentration of 50 mg/L for ions Cr3+ and Cr6+,
respectively. The Langmuir adsorption isotherms were used to fit the experimental
data. The maximum biosorption capacity was estimated to be close 1,82 and 1,51
mg per gram dry biomass. The absorption kinetics of Cr3+ and Cr6+ ion by S.
subsalsa sp. biomass is relatively fast, with 95,7%; and 86,5% of total adsorption
taking place in the first 30 minutes of exposure. Rate of shake relatively affecting
the capacity of biomass. Generally, particle size of biomass and heated of biomass
a little affecting the capacity of biomass.

Key Word : biosorption, spirogyra subsalsa, chromium(III), chromium(VI), batch

System

Corresponding Author: mawardianwar@yahoo.com