Efficient zinc ion biosorption on the biomass of Ericaria selaginoides algae following response surface methodology optimization: uptake behaviors and mechanisms
6 affiliations
- 1Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
- 2Biology Department, College of Sciences, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
- 3Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- 4Department of Pesticide Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Alexandria University, El-Shatby, Alexandria, Egypt
- 5Department of Health Sciences, College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- 6Department of Biology, College of Science, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman
Abstract
Background: Biosorption using marine algae biosorbents is a sustainable and effective method for removing of heavy metals from aquatic environments.
Methods: This study explored the biosorption of zinc ions from aqueous solutions using the biomass of the brown alga Ericaria selaginoides . The impacts of biosorbent dose, pH, and biosorbate concentration were optimized using the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and 3-D surface plots generated via Design-Expert software.
Results: Under optimized conditions, RSM predicted a maximum zinc removal efficiency of 89.79% which matches the experimental value of 87.72% ± 7.3%. These conditions included biosorbent dosage of 0.28 g/100 mL, zinc concentration of 33.62 mg/L, and pH of 6.97. The Langmuir model showed a maximum biosorption capacity of 114.94 mg/g, while the kinetic data were best described by the pseudo-second order model. The combined adsorption equilibrium, kinetic, thermodynamic, and surface characterization data show that Zn(II) biosorption by E. selaginoides involves a heterogeneous physicochemical process that includes surface complexation, ion exchange and auxiliary co-ordination with hydroxyl, amine, and phosphate groups. Overall, E. selaginoides exhibits promising potential as a low-cost and environmentally friendly biosorbent for zinc remediation from contaminated water, and additional process optimization could increase its efficacy in wastewater treatment. This research uniquely combines the optimization of zinc uptake by E. selaginoides using RSM with experimental evidence of the underlying biosorption behavior and mechanism.
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BibTeX
@article{fawzy2026efficient,
title = {{Efficient zinc ion biosorption on the biomass of Ericaria selaginoides algae following response surface methodology optimization: uptake behaviors and mechanisms}},
author = {Mustafa A. Fawzy and Mona Alharbi and Hana Sonbol and Mohamed R. Fouad and Shanoo Sheikh and Sedky H.A. Hassan},
journal = {PeerJ},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.7717/peerj.21793},
url = {https://peerj.com/articles/21793},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Efficient zinc ion biosorption on the biomass of Ericaria selaginoides algae following response surface methodology optimization: uptake behaviors and mechanisms
AU - Mustafa A. Fawzy
AU - Mona Alharbi
AU - Hana Sonbol
AU - Mohamed R. Fouad
AU - Shanoo Sheikh
AU - Sedky H.A. Hassan
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/14
JO - PeerJ
DO - 10.7717/peerj.21793
UR - https://peerj.com/articles/21793
AB - Background: Biosorption using marine algae biosorbents is a sustainable and effective method for removing of heavy metals from aquatic environments. Methods: This study explored the biosorption of zinc ions from aqueous solutions using the biomass of the brown alga Ericaria selaginoides . The impacts of biosorbent dose, pH, and biosorbate concentration were optimized using the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and 3-D surface plots generated via Design-Expert software. Results: Under optimized conditions, RSM predicted a maximum zinc removal efficiency of 89.79% which matches the experimental value of 87.72% ± 7.3%. These conditions included biosorbent dosage of 0.28 g/100 mL, zinc concentration of 33.62 mg/L, and pH of 6.97. The Langmuir model showed a maximum biosorption capacity of 114.94 mg/g, while the kinetic data were best described by the pseudo-second order model. The combined adsorption equilibrium, kinetic, thermodynamic, and surface characterization data show that Zn(II) biosorption by E. selaginoides involves a heterogeneous physicochemical process that includes surface complexation, ion exchange and auxiliary co-ordination with hydroxyl, amine, and phosphate groups. Overall, E. selaginoides exhibits promising potential as a low-cost and environmentally friendly biosorbent for zinc remediation from contaminated water, and additional process optimization could increase its efficacy in wastewater treatment. This research uniquely combines the optimization of zinc uptake by E. selaginoides using RSM with experimental evidence of the underlying biosorption behavior and mechanism.
SN - 2167-8359
ER -