Biosorption of Zn(II) from Seawater Solution by the Microalgal Biomass of Tetraselmis marina AC16-MESO: Biosorption of Zn(II) from Seawater Solution by the Microalgal Biomass of Tetraselmis marina AC16-MESO

Biosorption refers to a physicochemical process where substances are removed from thesolution by a biological material (live or dead) via adsorption processes governed by mechanismssuch as surface complexation, ion exchange, and precipitation. This study aimed to evaluate theadsorption of Zn2+ in seawater using the microalgal biomass of Tetraselmis marina AC16-MESO“in vivo” and “not alive” at different concentrations of Zn2+ (0, 5, 10, and 20 mg L−1) at 72 h. Analysiswas carried out by using the Langmuir isotherms and by evaluating the autofluorescence frommicroalgae. The maximum adsorption of Zn2+ by the Langmuir model using the Qmax parameterin the living microalgal biomass (Qmax = 0.03051 mg g−1) was more significant than the non-livingmicroalgal biomass of T. marine AC16-MESO (Qmax = 0.02297 mg g−1). Furthermore, a decreasein fluorescence was detected in cells from T. marina AC16-MESO, in the following order: Zn2+(0 < 20 < 5 < 10) mg L−1. Zn2+ was adsorbed quickly by living cells from T. marine AC16-MESOcompared to the non-living microalgal biomass, with a decrease in photosystem II activities from 0 to20 mg L−1 Zn2+ in living cells.