Project Page Views: [ 640 ]
Project Metadata Element | Details |
Project Title | Development of a modified seaweed biofiltration system for the control of metals and other pollutants in an industry waste-stream |
Research Area | Water |
Project Acronym | |
Principal Investigator or Lead Irish Partner | Eddy Fitzgerald |
Lead Institution or Organisation | Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) |
Lead Country | Ireland |
Latitude, Longitude (of Lead Institution) | 52.24631, -7.13980 |
Lead Funding Entity | Environmental Protection Agency |
Approximate Project Start Date | 22/01/2007 |
Approximate Project Finishing Date | 21/01/2008 |
Project Website (if any) | |
Links to other Web-based resources | |
Project Keywords | Seaweed Biomass; Biosorption; Heavy metals; Antagonistic effects |
Project Abstract | Three different species of non-living seaweeds biomass (Fucus vesiculosus Polysiphonia lanosa and Ulva lactuca) and a seaweed waste product derived from Ascophyllum nodosum (referred to as WAP) were studied for the biosorption of single and combined heavy metals (Ni(II) Zn(II) Al(III) and Sb(III)). Very high biosorption rates were recorded for the removal of Ni(II) Zn(II) and Al(III) for WAP/agar blocks and Sb(III) for P. lanosa/agar blocks. An antagonistic effect was observed when Sb(III) was mixed with the other metals leading to a reduction in uptake. However most of Sb(III) was removed by dead biomass of P. lanosa/agar. Sorption isotherm studies as well as an investigation of the antagonistic effects of Sb(III) on the sorption of the other metals were also carried out. WAP/agar blocks were used to test a laboratory scale fixed bed sorption column. Both short and long term studies were investigated. COMSOL software was used to generate models to predict breakthrough curves and simulate biosorption performance. |