Abstract
The current work focused on the possibility of using Chara algae, algae ashes from the Khirisan River in Diyala Governorate, as a biosorbent material to remove copper and lead ions from prepared aqueous solution. A batch biosorption experiments was carried out using Chara alge and its ashes as a biosorbent for metal removal to determined optimum biosorption conditions such as pH, different initial concentration for metal ions, the amount of the absorbent material, contact time of adsorbed algae with metal ions, and temperature. Maximum adsorption uptakes were 93% for lead and 88% for cupper at pH 5,5.5 respectively. Varying initial metal concentrations (from 20 to 80 ppm) and varying amount of biosorbent were investigated. Remove the metal ions with high efficiency depend on the pH, and these removal came in order lead > cupper. Using FT-IR shows that carboxylic group of alginate existing in the algae attaches to the metal ions leading to most of adsorption process. Current study showed that it is possible to use cheap and available in large quantities, Chara algae, which have the ability to remove toxicity from the outside stream of any industry. The practical results showed that the time required for adsorption was short, exothermic nature of biosorption process, best pH and high affinity for metal ions was found.