Copper and Cadmium Biosorption by Dried Seaweed Sargassum sinicola in Saline Wastewater

Rates of biosorption of cadmium and copper ions by nonliving biomass of the brown macroalga Sargassum sinicola under saline conditions were studied. Batch experiments show that the ability to remove cadmium is significantly diminished (from 81.8% to 5.8%), while the ability to remove copper remains high (from 89% to 80%) at a range of salinity from 0 to 40 psu. Maximum capacity of biosorption at 35 psu was 3.44 mg g⁻¹ for cadmium and 116 mg g⁻¹ for copper. The presence of salt did not significantly affect the rate of biosorption, which was about 90% of saturation in 60 min for both metals. There is an antagonistic effect on biosorption when both metals are present in the solution.