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Cited by 2,394Adsorption and biosorption for pollutant removalHeavy Metal Pollution RemediationCoagulation and Flocculation Studies

A review of the biochemistry of heavy metal biosorption by brown algae

Davis, Thomas A, Volesky, Bohumil, Mucci, Alfonso·2003·Water Research
DOI 10.1016/s0043-1354(03)00293-8
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Abstract

The passive removal of toxic heavy metals such as Cd(2+), Cu(2+), Zn(2+), Pb(2+), Cr(3+), and Hg(2+) by inexpensive biomaterials, termed biosorption, requires that the substrate displays high metal uptake and selectivity, as well as suitable mechanical properties for applied remediation scenarios. In recent years, many low-cost sorbents have been investigated, but the brown algae have since proven to be the most effective and promising substrates. It is their basic biochemical constitution that is responsible for this enhanced performance among biomaterials. More specifically, it is the properties of cell wall constituents, such as alginate and fucoidan, which are chiefly responsible for heavy metal chelation. In this comprehensive review, the emphasis is on outlining the biochemical properties of the brown algae that set them apart from other algal biosorbents. A detailed description of the macromolecular conformation of the alginate biopolymer is offered in order to explain the heavy metal selectivity displayed by the brown algae. The role of cellular structure, storage polysaccharides, cell wall and extracellular polysaccharides is evaluated in terms of their potential for metal sequestration. Binding mechanisms are discussed, including the key functional groups involved and the ion-exchange process. Quantification of metal-biomass interactions is fundamental to the evaluation of potential implementation strategies, hence sorption isotherms, ion-exchange constants, as well as models used to characterize algal biosorption are reviewed. The sorption behavior (i.e., capacity, affinity) of brown algae with various heavy metals is summarized and their relative performance is evaluated.

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  • Fucoidan is a cell wall polysaccharide found in members of family Laminariaceae of brown algae.

    “Fucoidan is a cell wall polysaccharide that is found in the members of family Laminariaceae of brown algae.”

    From The Enzymatic Conversion of Major Algal and Cyanobacterial Carbohydrates to Bioethanol (2016) · cites this paper as Davis et al., 2003

  • Fucoidan displays a general backbone consisting predominantly of α-(1→2)-linked sulfated l-fucose units and, in smaller amounts, α-(1→3)- and α-(1→4)-linked sulfated fucose units.

    “Nevertheless, it displays a general backbone consisting of predominantly α-(1→2)-linked sulfated l-fucose units and, in smaller amounts, α-(1→3)and α-(1→4)-1inked sulfated fucose units (Percival, 1979;Davis et al., 2003;Li et al., 2008;Ale and Meyer, 2013).”

    From The Enzymatic Conversion of Major Algal and Cyanobacterial Carbohydrates to Bioethanol (2016) · cites this paper as Davis et al., 2003

  • The enzymatic hydrolysis of ulvan and fucoidan has been studied less intensively than other polysaccharides.

    “The enzymatic hydrolysis of ulvan and fucoidan has been studied less intensively than other polysaccharides, due to several reasons.”

    From The Enzymatic Conversion of Major Algal and Cyanobacterial Carbohydrates to Bioethanol (2016) · cites this paper as Davis et al., 2003

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Authors
Davis, T. A., Volesky, B., & Mucci, A.
Affiliations
McGill University (CA)
Corresponding author
Mucci, Alfonso
ORCID
Mucci, Alfonso
Venue
Water Research
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2003-11
Volume
37
Issue
18
Pages
4311-4330
ISSN
0043-1354 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/s0043-1354(03)00293-8
OpenAlex
W2086492725
Cited by
2,394
References
80
Citations by year
2026: 59 · 2025: 79 · 2024: 79 · 2023: 123 · 2022: 120 · 2021: 143 · 2020: 139 · 2019: 126 · 2018: 139 · 2017: 116 · 2016: 111 · 2015: 152 · 2014: 141 · 2013: 129 · 2012: 125
FWCI
6.96
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Water Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
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
heavy metal biosorption, brown algae, alginate, fucoidan, metal chelation, metal ion selectivity, ion exchange, sorption isotherms, exopolysaccharides, heavy metal removal, low-cost adsorbent, metal binding mechanisms
MeSH terms
Adsorption, Phaeophyceae, Biodegradation, Environmental, Water Pollutants, Water Purification, Biomass, Metals, Heavy

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