Biosorption of fluoride from aqueous phase onto algal Spirogyra IO1 and evaluation of adsorption kinetics

Abstract

Non-viable algal Spirogyra IO1 was studied for its fluoride sorption potential in batch studies. The results demonstrated the ability of the biosorbent for fluoride removal. The sorption interaction of fluoride on to non-viable algal species obeyed the pseudo-first-order rate equation. The intraparticle diffusion of fluoride molecules within the Spirogyra was identified to be the rate-limiting step. It was also found that the adsorption isotherm followed the rearranged Langmuir isotherm adsorption model. Fluoride sorption was dependent on the aqueous phase pH and the fluoride uptake was greater at lower pH.