Heavy metal pollution has a harmful impact on human health and is regarded as a vital problem. Preparation of a novel, low cost bio-sorbent for heavy metal sorption is the main target of this research. Non-living Chlorella Vulgaris Alga/Date pit activated carbon composite (1:1), (CV/AC), is a novel bio-sorbent prepared by the wet-chemical method for sorption of Pb (II) and Sr (II) from aqueous media. The optimum pH for sorption reaction is 5 and the equilibrium time is achieved within 1 h. The sorption efficiencies are 90.5% for Pb(II) and 95.7% for Sr(II) with initial concentration Co 10 mg L– 1 at 298 K. The monolayer sorption capacities of CV/AC composite at 298 K and pH = 5 were 6.34 ± 0.059, 5.97 ± 0.22 mg g– 1. The saturation capacities were 98.5 and 125 mg g– 1 for Pb (II) and Sr (II), respectively after 10 days. The sorption process is a spontaneous and endothermic reaction. It follows a pseudo-2nd-order mechanism. The results are suggestive of the need to adopt CV/AC composite as a potential bio-sorbent of Pb (II) and Sr (II) for waste water treatment.
The hydrothermal carbonization is one of attractive thermo-chemical method to upgrade biomass to produce biochar with benefit method from the use of no chemical catalytic. Hydrothermal carbonization improved that the upgrading and dewatering algal biomass, microalga as Chlorella vulgaris, which is conducted at temperatures ranging from 180 to 350℃ with a reaction time of 30 min. These characteristic changes in algal biomass were similar to those of coalification reactions due to dehydration and decarboxylation with increase of hydrothermal reaction temperature. The biochar became a solid fuel substance, the characteristics of which corresponded with fuel between lignite and sub-bituminous coal. The results of this study indicate that hydrothermal treatment can be used as an effective means to generate highly energy-efficient renewable fuel resources using algal biomass.