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Technical
Note Influence of the hydration degree on copper
removal by Spirulina platensis biomass In
the present work, hydrated biomass of Spirulina platensis has been used for copper
removal from aqueous solutions. Biomass has firstly been characterised by potentiometric
titration and the overall ionic content evaluated. Copper uptake experiments have been
carried out using powdered dry biomass of this cyanobacterium, preliminarily hydrated for
increasing time, namely 0, 24, 48, 72 and 96h. Titration experimental data suggest that
biomass contains two main acidic groups and total specific negative charge of about
0.4meq/g biomass. The total amount of metal cations released by biomass indicates a metal
adsorption capacity of 0.79meq/g. Adsorption tests have evidenced an increase in copper
removal capacity of biomass induced by its pre-hydration, likely due to the fact that the
contact with water was able to swell up dry biomass so as to expose to the outside a
significant number of sites available for adsorption. A hydration time of 48h appears to
be the best condition of S. platensis biomass pre-treatment for copper removal. |
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