Cited by 145Adsorption and biosorption for pollutant removalHeavy Metal Pollution RemediationCoagulation and Flocculation Studies

Application of algae for heavy metal adsorption: A 20-year meta-analysis

Lin, Zeyu, Li, Jing, Luan, Yaning, Dai, Wei·2020·Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety

Abstract

The use of algae to adsorb heavy metals is an efficient and environmentally friendly treatment for contaminated water and has attracted widespread research attention. In this study, a meta-analysis of the heavy metal adsorption capacity of algae from five different phyla and the factors influencing these capacities was conducted. Phaeophyta was found to have a high heavy metal adsorption capacity, whereas Bacillariophyta had a relatively low adsorption capacity; Chlorophyta, Rhodophyta, and Cyanophyta had moderate adsorption capacities. Non-living algae were more effective in practical applications than living algae were. Algal biomass had a relatively high adsorption efficiency of 1-10 g/L, which did not increase significantly when algal concentration increased. The algal adsorption efficiency for initial heavy metal concentrations of 10-100 mg/L was higher than for concentrations of greater than 100 mg/L. The results further show that algal adsorption of heavy metals reached a maximum capacity of 80-90% within 20 min. Heavy metal adsorption by algae was not temperature-dependent, and it was more effective in moderately to weakly acidic environments (pH = 4-7.5). Considering these aspects for practical applications, algae from some phyla can effectively be used for heavy metal biosorption in contaminated water.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.110089

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  • Environmental factors such as salinity, pH, sunlight exposure, nutrient availability, water currents, and seasonal changes contribute to large geographic disparities in contamination levels.

    “Environmental factors such as salinity, pH, sunlight exposure, nutrient availability, water currents, and seasonal changes further contribute to large geographic disparities in contamination levels [224,225].”

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Authors
Lin, Z., Li, J., Luan, Y., & Dai, W.
Affiliations
Beijing Forestry University (CN)
Corresponding author
Dai, Wei
Venue
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2020-03
Volume
190
Pages
110089
ISSN
0147-6513 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2997311526
Cited by
145
References
125
Citations by year
2026: 12 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 19 · 2023: 22 · 2022: 31 · 2021: 34 · 2020: 6
FWCI
1.01
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2019ZY21)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Water Science and Technology › Adsorption and biosorption for pollutant removal
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Water Science and Technology › Heavy Metal Pollution Remediation
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Water Science and Technology › Coagulation and Flocculation Studies
Keywords
algae, heavy metal adsorption, biosorption, contaminated water treatment, brown algae, diatoms, Chlorophyta, red algae, cyanobacteria, algal biomass, initial metal concentration, pH effect, temperature effects, adsorption capacity
MeSH terms
Adsorption, Phaeophyceae, Chlorophyta, Rhodophyta, Hydrogen-Ion Concentration, Temperature, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Biomass, Metals, Heavy

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