Removal of zinc by biomass of aquatic mosses

Abstract

The utilization of aquatic mosses for the treatment of wastewater containing heavy metals is gaining more attention as a simple, effective and economic means of pollution remediation. The effect of various parameters such as contact time, initial metal ion concentration and temperature on zinc biosorption onto the aquatic moss Fontinalis antipyretica was studied. The maximum zinc uptake by Fontinalis antipyretica in batch system at pH 5.0, adsorbent dose of 2 g l-1 and 20ºC was found to be 15.4 mg g-1. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models fit de experimental data. Results showed that nonliving biomass of Fontinalis antipyretica is a suitable biosorbent for zinc.