Towards sustainable development of microalgal biosorption for treating effluents containing heavy metals

Document Type : Review Paper

Author

Department of Chemical Engineering. Faculty of Engineering, University of Abuja, P.M.B. 117, Airport Road, main campus, FCT, Abuja, Nigeria.

Abstract

Effluents containing heavy metals are hazardous to human health and the environment even at low concentrations. It is costly and unsustainable to use conventional methods to remove heavy metals from dilute effluents. Microalgal biomass owing to its high metal biosorption capacity, is a promising alternative biosorbent for treating dilute heavy metal solutions. However, the application of freely suspended algal biomass for metal removal has a number of drawbacks such as small particle size, low chemical resistance, low mechanical strength, and difficulty in separation of biomass and effluent. The present article reviews the techniques used to address these drawbacks. It also discusses the key factors affecting biosorption efficiency including initial concentration of metal ions, contact time, solution pH, solution temperature, biosorbent concentration, agitation rate, and competing ions. Biomass cross-linking with appropriate agents such as polysolfane, formaldehyde, or chlorohydrin could improve mechanical strength, chemical resistance, and separation of the biomass from the effluent. However, cross-linked biomass usually shows low sorption capacity and slow rate of metal uptake. These disadvantages could be minimized by using physical and/or chemical pretreatments prior to biomass cross-linking. Alkaline detergent, sodium hydrogen carbonate without autoclaving, sodium hydroxide or sodium carbonate plus autoclaving, or supercritical carbon dioxide at mild conditions are among the most effective pretreatments. Apart from liberating more latent metal binding sites on the biomass, supercritical CO2 could also improve the porosity of the biomass thereby improving sorption rate of the cross-linked biomass. High sorption capacity and rapid metal uptake will allow substantial reduction in size of biosorption columns, which will consequently improve the economic and sustainability features of algal-based metal biosorption processes.

Graphical Abstract

Towards sustainable development of microalgal biosorption for treating effluents containing heavy metals

Highlights

  • Biosorbents for heavy metals removal were reviewed.
  • Microalgae show promising biosorption capacity.
  • Microalgae need to be cross-linked for effective biosorption.
  • Biomass pretreament prior to cross-linking could improve sorption capacity and rate.

Keywords


 

On the cover

Despite the high biosorption capacity of microalgae, freely suspended microalgae is not attractive because of a number of disadvantages, i.e., small particle size, low chemical resistance, low mechanical strength, and difficulty in separation of biomass from the treated effluent. However, these shortcomings can be addressed by using immobilized microalgae in a biosorption packed bed. In this issue of Biofuel Research Journal, Dr. Kamoru A. Salam comprehensively reviews the essentials of microalgal biosorption for treating effluents containing heavy metals. He presents and critically discusses the different immobilization techniques used to enhance this process with a focus on cross-linking as the most promising approach. The author emphasizes that an ideal microalgal biosorbent should exhibit high sorption capacity, rapid sorption rate, good mechanical stability, high chemical resistance, easy separability, and reusability to ensure a cost effective and sustainable biosorption process. Cover art by BiofuelResJ.

 

[4] Aksu, Z., 1998. Immobilized algal technology for wastewater treatment purposes, in: Tam, N.F.Y., Wong, Y.S. (Eds). Wastewater treatment with algae. Springer-verlag, New York.
[14] Benefield, L.D., Judkins, J.F., Weand, B.L., 1982. Process Chemistry for water and wastewater treatment. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.
[16] Britton, H.T.S., 1943. The application of electrometric methods to the study of some ionic reactions. Ann. Rep. Prog. Chem. 40, 43-59.
[20] Burrows, A., Holman, J., Parsons, A., Pilling, G., 2009. Chemistry3: introducing inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry. Oxford Univ. Press, New York.
[27] Darnall, D.W., Greene, B., Hosea, M., McPherson, R.A., Henzl, M., Alexander, M.D., 1986. Recovery of heavy metals by immobilized algae:in trace metal removal from aqueous solutions, Industrial division of the Royal Society of Chemistry Annual Chemical Congress, Thomson, R. (Ed.), 1-24, UK.
[39] Gray, N.F., 1999. Water Technology. John Wiley and Sons, New York.
[50] Jjemba, P.K., 2004. Interaction of metals and metalloids with microorganisms in the environment, in: Jjemba, P.K. (Ed.), Environmental Microbiology-Principles and Applications. Science Publishers, New Hampshire. 257-270.
[52] Kim, K.W., Kang, S.Y., 2006. Bacterial Biosorption of trace elements, in Prasad, M.N.V., Sajwan, K.S., Naidu, R. (Eds.), Trace elements in environment: Biogeochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioremediation. CRC Press, Boca Raton.
[54] Kök, F.N., Hasirci, V., Arica, M.Y., 2001. In: Wise, D.L., Trantolo, D.J., Cichon, E.J., Inyang, H.I., Stottmeister, U. (Eds.), Bioremediation of contaminated soils. CRC Press.
[76] Pearson, R.G., 1966. Acids and Bases. Science. 151, 172-177.
[82] Robinson, P.K., 1998. Immobilized algal technology for wastewater treatment purposes, in Tam, N.F.Y., Wong, Y.S. (Eds.), Wastewater treatment with algae. Springer-verlag, New York.
[93] Talaro, K.P., Chess, B., 2015. Foundations in microbiology. McGraw-Hill Education, New York.
[108] Weber, W.J., Jr, 1985. Adsorption Theory, Concepts, and Modelsm, in Adsorption Technology: A Step-by-Step Approach to Process Evaluation and Application. Slejko, F. L. (Ed.), Marcel Dekker, New York. 1-35.