Abstract
Inorganic mercury was effectively removed from water solutions by means of dry biomass of Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis as biosorbent. The results obtained at defined pH and biomass concentration as well as variable Hg concentrations were used to estimate biosorption kinetics and isotherm parameters. Biosorption kinetics was best described by the pseudo-first-order model of Lagergren that allowed estimating an average specific rate constant as high as 0.044 min(-1), while the Dubinin and Radushkevich model was the best fitting isotherm. Hg biosorption seemed to occur via physisorption. Considering the wide dissemination of A. platensis and its easy cultivation, these results point to its biomass as a low-cost biosorbent to treat Hg-contaminated waters.