The removal of chromium (VI) from tannery waste using Spirulina sp. immobilized silica gel

Authors: NAIS PINTA ADETYA, UMA FADZILIA ARIFIN, EMILIANA ANGGRIYANI

Abstract: The use of microalgae biomass is an alternative solution to the problem of environmental pollution due to heavy metals, one of which is Cr metal in leather tanning liquid waste. However, the ability of biomass to adsorb heavy metals has limitations. Therefore, the algal biomass is immobilized with silica gel in order to obtain a stable structure. This research aims to study the absorption efficiency of Cr (VI) metal by the biomass of Spirulina sp. which is immobilized with silica gel from the tannery liquid waste. The preparation stages in this study were adsorbent preparation, immobilization of biomass with silica gel, and preparation of tannery liquid waste. Furthermore, the research treatment was carried out to determine the effect of the independent variable on the adsorption of Cr (VI). Characteristics of functional groups using FTIR show the biomass constituent of Spirulina sp. immobilized containing amino, carboxylate, and hydroxyl groups. The results showed that the optimum contact time required for adsorption of Cr (VI) ions was 60 min of immersion and the optimum pH value was 3. Adsorption of Cr (VI) ions followed Freundlich adsorption isothermal and included in the pseudo second order adsorption kinetics.

Keywords: Adsorption, chromium, immobilization, Spirulina sp., tannery waste

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