Abstract
This study focused on the alternative utilization of marine algal biomass (Ulva sp.), first as biosorbent for the removal of Zn(II) ions from aqueous solution and then as fertilizer for the improvement of soil quality, by its supplementation with Zn(II) as essential microelement. The biosorption experiments performed in batch systems at room temperature (22 ± 0.5 °C) showed that maximum removal efficiency of Zn(II) onto marine algae biomass is obtained in an initial solution with pH of 5.5, 8.0 g L−1 biosorbent dose, and 2 h of contact time. Under these conditions, the biosorption capacity reached 29.63 mg Zn(II) g−1 biomass. The desorption experiments have indicated that Zn(II) can be quantitatively released from loaded biomass using solutions of common inorganic salts and suggests the possibility of using Zn(II)-loaded biomass as fertilizer. This possibility was tested using an aric antrosol sample. After 8 weeks of treatment with Zn(II)-loaded biomass, the Zn(II) content in the soil sample increased over four times. Therefore, the marine algae loaded with Zn(II) can be a viable alternative of fertilizers and can be successfully used to increase soil quality.
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