Publication

Abstract : The current study is an attempt to utilize the waste algal biomass of Spirulina platensis obtained after biodiesel production. The research specifically focuses on employing these biomasses for carrying out the adsorption studies on chromium. The algal samples used in the study were subjected to FTIR, TGA and SEM analyses respectively. In addition, through EDX analyses the possible chemical elements of the algal species before and after biodiesel extraction was identified. The adsorption capacity of the biodiesel extracted biomass is found to be 45.5 mg/g for chromium ions. This phenomenon explains the fact that even after the extraction of biodiesel, the algal species still possess some of the desired functionalities required for the adsorption process. The study as well investigates the effect of selected adsorption process parameters in the uptake of metal ions. The temperature studies showed that the maximum adsorption efficiency is observed at 60 °C favouring the endothermic type of adsorption. Further, a maximum desorption efficiency of 82.5% and 70.4% which is reported for pure algal and biodiesel extracted algal samples respectively are favourable results. Additionally, the adsorption mechanisms were interpreted using isotherm, kinetic, diffusion and thermodynamic models. © 2019 Elsevier Ltd.