REUSABILITY OF SEAWEED BIOSORBENT IN MULTIPLE CYCLES OF CADMIUM ADSORPTION AND DESORPTION

The uptake of cadmium by the seaweed Sargassum siliquosum was investig ated over five consecutive cycles of adsorption and desorption with HC l as the desorbent. A large fraction of the cadmium loaded in the firs t cycle was gradually desorbed over the five cycles. The use of a much longer desorption time had no effect on this desorption trend. Only 2 5-34% of the uptake capacity of the fresh seaweed could be reused in s ubsequent cycles.