HEAVY METAL BIOSORPTION OF COPPER IONS BY IMMOBILIZED BIOMASS OF STICHOCOCCUS SUBTILIS (KUTZING) KLERCKER

In this study, the ability of Stichococcus subtilis (Kiitzing) Klercker was used for heavy metal removal adsorbstion capacity. The sorption ability of S. subtilis was investigated using Cu metallic solutions. In the analysis, pH effect, equilibrium timing, initial metal ions concentration and temperature ranges were investigated. For single metal systems, sorption isotherms were well-fitted to the Langmuir model. The results of the maximum Cu biosorption capacities were found as 2.70 and 10.4 mg/g for alginate and alginate cells, with pH 5.5, corresponding to the initial Cu concentration of 50 mg/L. Cu biosorption on all the tested biosorbents agreed with Langmuir adsorption isotherm model.