Interference of co-ions in biosorption of Cu2+ by biosorbent from marine alga Durvillaea potatorum

Biosorption of heavy metals can be an effective process for the treatment o f industrial wastewater that contains heavy metals. In this paper, the inte rference effects of co-ions on the biosorption of Cu2+ by using a biosorben t derived from the biomass of marine alga Durvillaea potatorum were investi gated. The adsorption capacity of biosorbent for Cu2+ from aqueous solution s containing co-ions of light metal ions (K+, Na+, Ca+, and Mg2+), other he avy metal ions (Ag+, Mn2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Zn2+, Fe3+, Cd2+, and Pb2+), and ani onic ligands (EDTA, CO32-, SO42-, and PO43-) were obtained. The results sho wed that Cu2+ uptake is significantly affected by other heavy metals and ED TA in solution (1.5-100% suppression) but not significantly affected by lig ht metal ions and other anionic ligands studied.