Textural characteristics, physiochemical properties and adsorption efficiencies of Caribbean alga Turbinaria turbinata and its derived carbonaceous materials for water treatment application

doi:10.1016/j.bej.2012.05.008

Biochemical Engineering Journal

Volume 67, 15 August 2012, Pages 35-44

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bej.2012.05.008 Get rights and content

Abstract

The adsorptive removal capacities of highly available Turbinaria turbinata alga and its derived carbonaceous products (i.e. pyrolyzed, physically and chemically activated carbons) were investigated in this study. Several textural and chemical characterizations were performed on the alga and its activated carbons (ACs). Besides, kinetics and isotherms assays were performed and modeled in order to monitor the sorption capacities and dynamic behaviors.

The main results showed that the raw Turbinaria biomass has a non porous structure. Then, after thermo-chemical treatments, a porous matrix starts to develop and the total pore volume drastically increased from 0.001 cm³/g for the algal precursor (turb-raw) to 1.316 cm³/g for its derived chemically AC (turb-P1). As well, the specific surface area improved from m²/g for (turb-raw) to 1307 m²/g for (turb-P1). Consequently, the maximum sorption capacity went from 63 mg/g for the algal biomass up to 411 mg/g for the chemically ACs.

Moreover, the removal rate was taken into consideration in order to set a more reliable and realistic approach to figure out the most efficient AC.

Thus, based on those criteria, it was found that the chemically activated carbon “turb-P1” is the most efficient Turbinaria-derived sorbent to adsorb and remove methylene blue (MB) molecules from aqueous solutions with 169 g of the dye using 1 kg of raw alga (considering an AC production yield of 49%).

Graphical abstract

Highlights

► From low cost Caribbian alga, Turbinaria turbinata, several adsorbents were produced. ► The biomass and its thermo-chemically derived materials were characterized. ► Kinetics and isotherms assays were performed and modeled. ► Biomass modification enhanced significantly the sorption capacity. ► Production yield was estimated for a more reliable assessment of sorbent efficiency.

Introduction

One of the most abundant and highly available natural resources in tropical ecosystems is alga. Along with its industrial valorization in the pharmaceutical, cosmetics and food industries, the use of alga for environmental decontamination is an interesting field of research and development. Indeed, based on their rich biochemical composition, the algal biomass is a very promising material to be used as adsorbent to remove various kinds of pollutants from contaminated water and wastewaters.

Several pollutants were successfully removed from aqueous media using alga such as Ulva fasciata and Sargassum sp. for copper uptake [1], Ulva lactuca and Sargassum sp. [2], [3] for chromium removal and Sargassum filipendula, Laminaria hyperborea, Bifurcaria bifurcata, Sargassum muticum and Fucus spiralis [4], [5] for cadmium, zinc and lead ions adsorption. Besides, many algae were studied for synthetic dyes removal like Enteromorpha spp. [6], U. lactuca [7], Caulerpa racemosa [8]. As well, phenol and phenolic compounds could be removed from aqueous solutions by adsorption onto alga such as Caulerpa scalpelliformis [9] and Lessonia nigrescens and Macrocystis integrifolia [10].

In this study, the sorption capacities of highly available, low-cost and renewable brown alga, Turbinaria turbinata and its derived activated carbons were investigated for the removal of methylene blue (MB); a model compound for organic molecules. To the best of our knowledge, the use of this algal biomass, widely distributing in the Caribbean, to remove pollutants using the adsorption technique has never been reported, along with its conversion into activated carbons (ACs). Thus, in this research, we will examine the sorption capabilities of this marine biomass starting with the raw alga, then with the pyrolyzed biomass and different kinds of activated carbons (physically and chemically activated) through kinetic and isotherm studies.

Several theoretical models were tested in order to fit the experimental data and to understand the possible physicochemical interactions involved in the sorption phenomenon between the biomass surface and the dye molecules. Besides, a comparative study on the sorption performances of Turbinaria and its derived ACs with other sorbents was also carried out.

Section snippets

Biomass preparation

Brown alga T. turbinata (turb-raw) was harvested in St. Francois, Guadeloupe. It is composed of 20.5% carbohydrate, 8% proteins, 0.2% lipids, 13% water, 16% ash, and 41% fibers content [11]. First, the biomass was washed with tap water to remove dirt and sand, then with deionized water to remove salt. After that, it was dried in the sun for a week before dividing the whole lot into two parts: one will be used for the biosorption experiments and the other for the preparation of activated carbons.

Adsorbents’ physical properties

Raw T. tubinata (turb-raw), its pyrolyzed sample (turb-pyr) and its derived ACs (turb-H₂O and turb-P1) were analyzed for nitrogen adsorption at 77 K. The adsorption/desorption isotherms for all samples listed above were depicted in Fig. 1. The physical characteristics are presented in Table 1. As shown, the raw algal biomass does not show an obvious porous structure. Indeed, it has a tiny porosity volume (0.001 cm³/g) probably due to the presence of some macropores, as suggested by the related

Conclusions

In this research, renewable and highly available Caribbean alga T. turbinata was investigated as sorbent material (turb-raw) and used as precursor for pyrolyzed carbon (turb-pyr), physically activated carbon (turb-H₂O) and chemically activated carbon (turb-P1). Basic dye, methylene blue, was chosen to be the adsorbate in order to have a comparative basis considering the large use of this dye in sorption experiments.

Primarily, several characterization analyses were performed on the brown alga

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Textural characteristics, physiochemical properties and adsorption efficiencies of Caribbean alga Turbinaria turbinata and its derived carbonaceous materials for water treatment application

Abstract

Graphical abstract

Highlights

Introduction

Section snippets

Biomass preparation

Adsorbents’ physical properties

Conclusions

Biores. Technol.

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Carbon

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