Study of composition of seaweed of the genus Ulva and filter paper made with added algae by SEM-EDX, PIXE and PIGE

This paper presents the results obtained from the analyses performed on seaweed and paper made with algal biomass addition using different analytical techniques, such as scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDX) and the ion beam analysis (IBA) techniques Particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) and gamma-ray emission (PIGE). The analyzed samples consisted of seaweed from the Ulva rigida C. Agardh 1823 species collected from the Black Sea coast, Romania, and filter papers with different mass addition (0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 8%) of seaweed. Seaweed introduced into the paper can dislodge some of the cellulose fibers, helping to reduce the amount of stranded seaweed that is currently not valorized in Romania. From the analysis of the results, it results that no potential toxic elements have been identified in the algae structure and the algal biomass could be used in the filter paper manufacture.