Home⇛Scientific Augustinian⇛vol. 15 no. 1 (2025)

Nanoadsorption of Copper and Mercury from Simulated Wastewater Using Caulerpa racemosa-Capped Silver Nanoparticles Embedded in a Sugarcane Bagasse-Derived Biosorbent Matrix

Kenjie S. Francisco | Russell N. Gorre

Discipline: Pharmacology

 

Abstract:

Copper (Cu) and mercury (Hg) contamination in aquatic systems, primarily driven by industrial and mining activities, poses significant environmental and public health risks. The Malihao River in Victorias City, Negros Occidental, represents a local example of persistent heavy metal pollution. This study investigated the adsorption, desorption, and recovery potential of Caulerpa racemosa-capped silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) incorporated into a sugarcane bagasse-derived biosorbent matrix for the removal of Cu and Hg from simulated wastewater. An aqueous extract of C. racemosa was used as a reducing and capping agent for the green synthesis of AgNPs, which were subsequently characterized using UV–visible spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. Seven treatment setups with varying AgNP-to-bagasse ratios were evaluated using a Completely Randomized Design with pretest–posttest measurements. The results demonstrated substantial reductions in Cu and Hg concentrations across treatments. The most effective treatment (75 mg AgNPs:25 mg SBM) reduced Cu concentrations from 10 mg/L to 5.33 mg/L and Hg concentrations from 10 mg/L to 4.97 mg/L. Paired t-test analysis indicated statistically significant differences between pretest and posttest concentrations (α = 0.05). One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) further revealed significant differences among treatment groups, indicating that adsorption efficiency was influenced by the nanoparticle-to-bagasse ratio. Desorption analysis demonstrated that ligand addition enabled recovery of Cu as copper(II) sulfide and Hg as mercuric sulfide, while the biosorbent matrix retained reusability for up to five adsorption–desorption cycles. The findings suggest a synergistic interaction between AgNPs and sugarcane bagasse fibers that enhanced both adsorption efficiency and material regeneration. Overall, the developed biosorbent system demonstrates potential as a sustainable and effective approach for heavy metal remediation in wastewater, with possible applications in environmental management and wastewater treatment systems.



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