Potentiality of quercetin-sodium hydroxide modified Spirulina Platensis in uranium biosorption from waste effluent

ABSTRACT

The study examined the efficiency of quercetin-NaOH modified spirulina platensis biomass for uranium biosorption. Spirulina platensis dry biomass was modified using quercetin and NaOH to increase its efficiency for uranium bio-sorption from aqueous solutions. The operating conditions were investigated and determined. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectrum was used to identify functional groups required for metal binding and the scanning electron microscope was used to show the surface morphology of the modified algal biomass. The effects of pH, biomass dosage, contact time and initial uranium ion concentration were evaluated. The experimental results showed that the efficiency of uranium ion adsorption on the algal preparations was in the following order: quercetin-NaOH-modified algal biomass > quercetin-modified algal biomass > native algal biomass. Maximum adsorption capacity of quercetin-NaOH-modified algal biomass was 73 mg/g. The desorption results showed that 90% of the loaded uranium was desorbed using 0.5 M sodium bicarbonate solution.

KEYWORDS:

• Uranium
• biosorption
• quercetin
• Spirulina platensis
• waste effluent

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.