Efficient removal of heavy metals and nutrients from wastewater using dried Cladophora biomass: Effect of environmental parameters
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This study investigated the efficiency of dried algal biomass for removing selected pollutants from wastewater, including chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), nitrate (NO?), and phosphate (PO?). The experiments were conducted under different pH levels (5.5, 7, and 10), temperatures (15, 25, and 35°C), and contact times (2, 6, and 24 hours). The results showed that the removal efficiency of heavy metals increased significantly with increasing pH and contact time. The highest removal efficiencies were recorded at pH 10 after 24 hours, reaching 99.56% for Cr, 92.27% for Ni, and 95.72% for Pb. In contrast, NO? removal efficiency ranged from ?40.21 to 86.83%, while PO? removal ranged from ?11.57 to 78.50% under different experimental conditions, indicating variable behavior and possible release under certain conditions. The results revealed that dried algal biomass is an effective biosorbent for heavy metal removal, particularly under alkaline conditions, whereas its efficiency for nutrient removal is less stable and highly dependent on environmental factors. These findings highlight the potential of algal biomass for wastewater treatment and emphasize the importance of optimizing operational conditions to improve removal efficiency.
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