Removal of Ni(II) and Zn(II) from Aqueous Media …
563
Fig. 1 Microscopic view of Spirogyra species of algae
2.1 Pre-treatment of Algal Biomass and Composite
Preparation
Algal mass obtained was thoroughly washed with deionized water. The washed
samples of algae were first sun dried for a full day followed by oven drying at 105 °C
for 8 h to ensure the algal mass is dried completely. The dried algae were manually
ground to obtain powdered algae. The Na-bentonite and powdered algal biomass were
mixed in a ratio of 1:2 in a total mixture weight of 100 gm using deionized water.
The solution was mixed using a magnetic stirrer for 4 h. After mixing properly, the
oven drying of mixture was done at 75 °C for about 7 h. The composite was again
ground manually using a mortar and a pastel. The composite was again dried in
an oven at 105 °C till weight remained constant. The Algae Bentonite Composite
(ABC) thus obtained was pretreated with salt solutions of NaCl followed by KCl.
For each run, salt solutions of 5% by weight were mixed with the ABC and agitated
for 1 h at 130 rpm. Thorough filtering and washing of ABC was done with deionized
water followed by oven drying at 65 ± 5 °C for 6 h and used for batch adsorption
experiments (Rashid et al. 2016). Ni(II) and Zn(II) stock solution of 500 mg/l were
prepared and diluted to required concentrations for each batch experiment. Atomic
Absorption Spectroscopy (ASS-Perkin Elmer Analyst 800) was used for determining
concentrations of metal ions.
2.2 Adsorption Studies
Stock solutions of Zn(II) and Ni(II) ions were prepared by dissolving the respective amounts of Zn(NO 3 ) 2 .6H 2 O and Ni(NO 3 ) 2 .6H 2 O in ultra-pure deionized water.
Working solutions were prepared from stock using dilution method. The variation
of parameters like pH, dosage of adsorbent, time of contact, initial concentration of
metal ions in aqueous solution and temperature were observed. pH of the working
solutions was adjusted using 0.1 M NaOH and 0.1 M HCl. The batch experiments
563
Fig. 1 Microscopic view of Spirogyra species of algae
2.1 Pre-treatment of Algal Biomass and Composite
Preparation
Algal mass obtained was thoroughly washed with deionized water. The washed
samples of algae were first sun dried for a full day followed by oven drying at 105 °C
for 8 h to ensure the algal mass is dried completely. The dried algae were manually
ground to obtain powdered algae. The Na-bentonite and powdered algal biomass were
mixed in a ratio of 1:2 in a total mixture weight of 100 gm using deionized water.
The solution was mixed using a magnetic stirrer for 4 h. After mixing properly, the
oven drying of mixture was done at 75 °C for about 7 h. The composite was again
ground manually using a mortar and a pastel. The composite was again dried in
an oven at 105 °C till weight remained constant. The Algae Bentonite Composite
(ABC) thus obtained was pretreated with salt solutions of NaCl followed by KCl.
For each run, salt solutions of 5% by weight were mixed with the ABC and agitated
for 1 h at 130 rpm. Thorough filtering and washing of ABC was done with deionized
water followed by oven drying at 65 ± 5 °C for 6 h and used for batch adsorption
experiments (Rashid et al. 2016). Ni(II) and Zn(II) stock solution of 500 mg/l were
prepared and diluted to required concentrations for each batch experiment. Atomic
Absorption Spectroscopy (ASS-Perkin Elmer Analyst 800) was used for determining
concentrations of metal ions.
2.2 Adsorption Studies
Stock solutions of Zn(II) and Ni(II) ions were prepared by dissolving the respective amounts of Zn(NO 3 ) 2 .6H 2 O and Ni(NO 3 ) 2 .6H 2 O in ultra-pure deionized water.
Working solutions were prepared from stock using dilution method. The variation
of parameters like pH, dosage of adsorbent, time of contact, initial concentration of
metal ions in aqueous solution and temperature were observed. pH of the working
solutions was adjusted using 0.1 M NaOH and 0.1 M HCl. The batch experiments