Adsorption of heavy metals from the aqueous solution using activated biomass from Ulva flexuosa

The removal of various highly toxic heavy metals from wastewater environment is an important task to improve environment. The biosorption potential of cadmium, cobalt and zinc was evaluated using Ulva flexuosa biomass. The impacts of adsorbent dosage, pH of the medium, contact time, and agitation speed were analyzed. The maximum biosorption potential was reached at pH 4.0, 0.4 g initial biosorbent dosage, contact time 40 min and 30 mg/L initial metal concentration for cadmium, while the other factors were similar to zinc, except 35 min contact time (p