OSCILLATORIA ANGUISTISSIMA - A PROMISING CU2+ BIOSORBENT

Oscillatoria anguistissima rapidly adsorbs Cu2+ from aqueous solution, The adsorption of Cu2+ followed Freundlich Isotherm, and the amount o f Cu2+ removed from solution increased with increasing Cu2+ concentrat ion. The adsorption is pH dependent, and maximum Cu2+ removal occurs a t pH 5. Of the various pretreatments, HCl treatment of the biomass inc reased the capacity for Cu2+ removal. Presence of Mg2+ and Ca2+ result ed in decline in the Cu2+ adsorption capacity of Oscillatoria cells, T his species could also effectively remove Cu2+ from mine water contain ing 68.4 mu g/ml of Cu2+ at pH 3.45.