Hand Book on Biosorption

With the rapid development of industries heavy metal pollution has become one of the most serious environmental problems. Heavy metals are toxic and harmful to both flora and fauna. Heavy metals affect many biological processes such as respiration, photosynthesis, reproduction and metabolism which cause a partial or total damage to the living organisms. Biosorption is particularly economical and competitive for environmental applications in detoxifying effluents from, metal plating and metal finishing operations, mining and ore processing operations, battery and accumulator manufacturing operations, thermal power generation (coal-fired plants in particular), nuclear power generation. Many scientific studies are currently underway to provide a deeper understanding of biosorption and to support its effective application. Among the various absorbents marine algae are gaining attention due to their high capacity for metal uptake, availability in nature. The algal cell wall is made of a multilayer microfibrillar framework generally consisting of cellulose and amorphous material. A high proportion of alginate (14-40%) is present in marine algae.