STUDIES OF BIOSORPTION HEAVY METAL IONS BY

Spirogyra subsalsa sp. BIOMASS *

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

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 Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Science,
Indonesia University, Depok 16424, Indonesia

Abstract

In this research was learned about function of functional group in algae S.

subsalsa sp biomass in course of biosorption each Pb2+, Cu2+, Cd2+, Zn2+, Cr3+ and Cr6+
cations, by treating biomass by chemical modification of carboxyl, carbonyl and amino
groups, that is methanol 99%, glicol, and mixture formaldehyde and formic acid,
influence of immobilization of biomass within polysilicate matrix to absorption
capacities. Optimation condition of regeneration column by nitrate acid, HNO 3, and
recovery column and application of column to remove and preconcentration trace
element from waste waters.
Among the most important that have to be evaluated in biosorption study, are :
treating of biomass by chemical modification, that is methanol 99%, glicol, and mixture
formaldehyde and formic acid to cause decrease in cation sorption capacity of biomassa
for Pb2+, Cd2+, Zn2+, and Cr3+ cations. The exemption for Cu2+, which the biomass treated
by methanol, and Cr6+, which the biomass treated by glicol, and mixture formaldehyde
and formic acid increasingly in cation sorption capacity of biomassa, 10,46%; 116,50%
and 41,78%, respectively. The biomass was treated by mixture formaldehyde and formic
acid showing very keen sorption capacity degradation to each Pb2+, Cd2+, Zn2+, and Cr3+,
that are 91,27; 85,39; 79,96; 91,30 and 55,91% respectively, except to Cr 6+, what is in
condensation of there are in species Cr2O72- anion, sorption capacities increase 41,78%.
Generally, immobilization biomass by sodium silicate cause to increase sorpsion capacity
of biomass, specially Cr6+, sorption improvement more than 100%, that is 2,27 mg/g for
pure biomassa and 5,77 mg/g for immobilized biomass. The increase of sorption capacity
immobilized biomass each Pb2+, Cd2+, Zn2+, and Cr3+ cations are 4,25; 15,95; 8,84 and
3,49%. While for metal Cr6+ absorbtion increase to 153,74 %. Desorption of the
adsorption Pb2+ significantly proportional with used nitrate acid concentration, that is
more 89% at 0,5 M HNO3, while for Cu2+ at 0,05 M HNO3 have desorbed about 60%.
While desorbed Cd2+ and Zn2+ cations were washed once with HNO3 0,5 M more than
80%. The biosrption process of cations by immobilized biomass was a rapid process,
wherein more than 50% of the final uptake value occur at rate flow 50 drops/minute.

Keyword : S. subsalsa sp, biosorption, methanol, glycol, formaldehyde and formic acid,
nitrate acid