Biosorption of Cu(II) and Pb(II) heavy metals using chlorella vulgaris

Environmental pollution caused by heavy metals poses a serious threat to living organisms in their ecosystem. Microalgae are organisms with the potential to be used for the removal of toxic and harmful substances from the environment. In this study, the biosorption capacity of Cu (II) and Pb (II) ions of Chlorella vulgaris (chlorophyta) was investigated by batch method. In this study, the removal of Cu (II) and Pb (II) heavy metals of C. vulgaris microalgae by applying different pH values, biosorbent amounts, contact times, mixing speeds and temperatures was investigated to determine optimum conditions for these parameters. The highest adsorption efficiency for Cu (II) heavy metal was obtained when pH 6, 5 mg biosorbent amount, 45 minutes contact time, 500 rpm stirring speed, 60 ° C temperature, 25 mg / L solution concentration, 25 mL solution volume. The highest adsorption efficiency for Pb (II) heavy metal was obtained when pH 4, 5 mg biosorbent amount, 60 minutes contact time, 500 rpm stirring speed, 25 ° C temperature, 25 mg / L solution concentration, 25 mL solution volume. We concluded that chlorella cells can achieve Cu and Pb adsorption with high efficiency when optimum conditions are provided.