Ecofriendly remediation of cadmium, lead, and zinc using dead cells of Microcystis aeruginosa

Abstract The utilization of cyanobacteria toxin-producing blooms for metal ions adsorption has garnered significant attention over the last decade. This study investigates the efficacy of dead cells from Microcystis aeruginosa blooms, collected from agricultural drainage water reservoir, in removing...

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Main Authors: Mohamad S. Abdelkarim, Mohamed H. H. Ali, Doaa A. Kassem
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-01-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-86884-1
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author Mohamad S. Abdelkarim
Mohamed H. H. Ali
Doaa A. Kassem
author_facet Mohamad S. Abdelkarim
Mohamed H. H. Ali
Doaa A. Kassem
author_sort Mohamad S. Abdelkarim
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The utilization of cyanobacteria toxin-producing blooms for metal ions adsorption has garnered significant attention over the last decade. This study investigates the efficacy of dead cells from Microcystis aeruginosa blooms, collected from agricultural drainage water reservoir, in removing of cadmium, lead, and zinc ions from aqueous solutions, and simultaneously addressing the mitigation of toxin-producing M. aeruginosa bloom. Some physical characterization of the dead biomass was performed, including scanning electron microscope (SEM) which revealed that, the cells form a dense, amorphous cluster, energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy confirmed that carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen are the predominant elements in the biomass, Fourier transformation infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy identified several active function groups, including hydroxyl, aliphatic C–H amide I and amide II bands, carboxylate and carbonyl (C=O). Key factors influencing the adsorption process were examined. Under optimal conditions—pH 6, a biosorbent dose of 0.3 g, contact time of 90 min, primary metal level of 100 mg/L and temperature of 35 °C (313K)—a maximum removal efficiency exceeding 90% was achieved. Isothermal analysis revealed that the adsorption of Cd(II), Pb(II), and Zn(II) followed the Langmuir isotherm model (R2 = 0.96, q max > 67 mg/g). Kinetic studies indicated that the pseudo-second-order model best described the adsorption process (R2 > 0.94 and q e  > 81.3 mg/g.), suggesting a dominant chemisorption mechanism. Thermodynamic analysis indicated that the adsorption process is spontaneous and endothermic. The findings highlight the potential of M. aeruginosa dead cells as a low-cost, sustainable biosorbent for the removal of heavy metal in wastewater treatment applications.
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spelling doaj-art-f2788be5c395470bad4762e8cb877a1b2025-02-02T12:22:51ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-01-0115111610.1038/s41598-025-86884-1Ecofriendly remediation of cadmium, lead, and zinc using dead cells of Microcystis aeruginosaMohamad S. Abdelkarim0Mohamed H. H. Ali1Doaa A. Kassem2Hydrobiology Lab, National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF)Chemistry Lab, National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF)Hydrobiology Lab, National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF)Abstract The utilization of cyanobacteria toxin-producing blooms for metal ions adsorption has garnered significant attention over the last decade. This study investigates the efficacy of dead cells from Microcystis aeruginosa blooms, collected from agricultural drainage water reservoir, in removing of cadmium, lead, and zinc ions from aqueous solutions, and simultaneously addressing the mitigation of toxin-producing M. aeruginosa bloom. Some physical characterization of the dead biomass was performed, including scanning electron microscope (SEM) which revealed that, the cells form a dense, amorphous cluster, energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy confirmed that carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen are the predominant elements in the biomass, Fourier transformation infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy identified several active function groups, including hydroxyl, aliphatic C–H amide I and amide II bands, carboxylate and carbonyl (C=O). Key factors influencing the adsorption process were examined. Under optimal conditions—pH 6, a biosorbent dose of 0.3 g, contact time of 90 min, primary metal level of 100 mg/L and temperature of 35 °C (313K)—a maximum removal efficiency exceeding 90% was achieved. Isothermal analysis revealed that the adsorption of Cd(II), Pb(II), and Zn(II) followed the Langmuir isotherm model (R2 = 0.96, q max > 67 mg/g). Kinetic studies indicated that the pseudo-second-order model best described the adsorption process (R2 > 0.94 and q e  > 81.3 mg/g.), suggesting a dominant chemisorption mechanism. Thermodynamic analysis indicated that the adsorption process is spontaneous and endothermic. The findings highlight the potential of M. aeruginosa dead cells as a low-cost, sustainable biosorbent for the removal of heavy metal in wastewater treatment applications.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-86884-1
spellingShingle Mohamad S. Abdelkarim
Mohamed H. H. Ali
Doaa A. Kassem
Ecofriendly remediation of cadmium, lead, and zinc using dead cells of Microcystis aeruginosa
Scientific Reports
title Ecofriendly remediation of cadmium, lead, and zinc using dead cells of Microcystis aeruginosa
title_full Ecofriendly remediation of cadmium, lead, and zinc using dead cells of Microcystis aeruginosa
title_fullStr Ecofriendly remediation of cadmium, lead, and zinc using dead cells of Microcystis aeruginosa
title_full_unstemmed Ecofriendly remediation of cadmium, lead, and zinc using dead cells of Microcystis aeruginosa
title_short Ecofriendly remediation of cadmium, lead, and zinc using dead cells of Microcystis aeruginosa
title_sort ecofriendly remediation of cadmium lead and zinc using dead cells of microcystis aeruginosa
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-86884-1
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AT doaaakassem ecofriendlyremediationofcadmiumleadandzincusingdeadcellsofmicrocystisaeruginosa