<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <article key="pdf/13605" mdate="2011-04-20 00:00:00"> <author>P.P. Diale and E. Muzenda and T.S. Matambo and D. Glasser and D. Hildebrandt and J. Zimba</author> <title>Biosorption of Heavy Metals Contaminating the Wonderfonteinspruit Catchment Area using Desmodesmus sp.</title> <pages>398 - 407</pages> <year>2011</year> <volume>5</volume> <number>4</number> <journal>International Journal of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering</journal> <ee>https://publications.waset.org/pdf/13605</ee> <url>https://publications.waset.org/vol/52</url> <publisher>World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology</publisher> <abstract>A vast array of biological materials, especially algae have received increasing attention for heavy metal removal. Algae have been proven to be cheaper, more effective for the removal of metallic elements in aqueous solutions. A fresh water algal strain was isolated from Zoo Lake, Johannesburg, South Africa and identified as Desmodesmus sp. This paper investigates the efficacy of Desmodesmus sp.in removing heavy metals contaminating the Wonderfonteinspruit Catchment Area (WCA) water bodies. The biosorption data fitted the pseudosecond order and Langmuir isotherm models. The Langmuir maximum uptakes gave the sequence Mn2&amp;amp;gt;Ni2&amp;amp;gt;Fe2. The best results for kinetic study was obtained in concentration 120 ppm for Fe3 and Mn2, whilst for Ni2 was at 20 ppm, which is about the same concentrations found in contaminated water in the WCA (Fe3115 ppm, Mn2 121 ppm and Ni2 26.5 ppm). </abstract> <index>Open Science Index 52, 2011</index> </article>