Removal of colorant from simulated wastewater by phyco-composite material: Equilibrium, kinetic and mechanism studies in a lab-scale application

The biosorption properties of a novel phyco-composite material composed of Spirogyra sp. and Rhizoclonium sp. filamentous green algal biomasses for a model colorant (Basic Red 46, Br46) from simulated wastewater were first explored with respect to medium pH, biomaterial quantity, colorant concentration and contact time. The pseudo-second-order model represented the biosorption kinetic data well. Among biosorption isotherm models, Sips model provided the best fit to the equilibrium data. The phyco-composite biosorbent exhibited best performance at pH 9 with maximum biosorption capacity of 55.953 mg g− 1 for Br46. The mean free energy (E) from Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm equation and the standard Gibbs free energy change (ΔG°) revealed a feasible, spontaneous and physical biosorption process. Thus, this novel composite material can be used as a promising biosorbent to remove such unsafe colorants from aqueous media.