Biosorption of Heavy Metals from Aqueous Industrial Effluent by Non-living Biomass of Two Marine Green Algae Ulva lactuca and Dunaliella salina as Biosorpents

The growing industries in Suez Gulf lead to two serious environmental problems, heavy metals pollution, and eutrophication. The present work focused on, how those two problems can solve each other. Therefore, non-living dried biomass of the most blooming algae, "Ulva lactuca and Dunaliella salina" in Suez Gulf were used as biosorpents to remove heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Cd, Fe, Mn, Pb, Ni and Cr) from two types of aqueous industrial effluents, belonging to petrochemicals (E.1) and fertilizers (E.2) production. The results clarify that Biosorption capacity of D. salina was more powerful for Cd, Zn and Pb within E.1, especially in case of lead (22.34 mg.g^-1) showing distinct gap with E.2 (7.63 mg.g^-1). However, U. lactuca was more efficient for Fe (4.07- 15.86 mg.g^-1) and Cu (0.83- 11.49 mg.g^-1) within E.1, meanwhile it gave its maximum (2.75- 10.9 mg.g^-1) within E.2 with significant capacity in case of Mn. On the other hand, anent the removal efficiencies, Cu, Fe and Mn had maximum removal efficiencies by U. lactuca within both effluents (91.8, 87.2 and 84.8% respectively) with a superiority of E.2. However, in case of Zn (87.4%), Pb (86.2%) and Cd (81.5%), D. salina was most efficiency. In conclusion, this work confirms the potential use of U. lactuca for removal of Cu, Fe, and Mn, however, D. salina was more powerful in removing Cd, Zn, and Pb from industrial wastewater.