Biosorption of nickel from aqueous solution onto Liagora viscida: Kinetics, isotherm, and thermodynamics

The present article addresses the effect of various parameters on batch biosorption of nickel using an inexpensive Liagora viscida algae as a biosorbent. The experimental studies revealed that for an initial metal solution concentration of 20-200 ppm, the equilibrium is achieved after 50 min and the maximum sorption at a pH of 5. Isotherms such as Temkin, Freundlich, and Langmuir were examined. The data are well suitable by using the Langmuir isotherm with a sorption uptake of 22.77 mg/g, confirming that L. viscida can be considered as a low-cost biosorbent. The dynamic experimental data were represented well by pseudo-first-order kinetics. The thermodynamic study revealed that the biosorption of nickel on to L. viscida was endothermic and spontaneous.