Study of Sargassum spp. as a biosorbent material for the elimination of contaminants dissolved in water

Abstract The massive influx of Sargassum spp . to the Mexican Caribbean coasts poses significant environmental, economic, and health challenges. This study explores the potential use of Sargassum spp . as a biosorbent material for contaminant removal. Some of the pollutants found in water bodies in some coastal areas are those derived from soaps and detergents, such as sulfates and phosphates. Therefore, the biosorbent capacity of Sargassum spp . to remove this type of substance dissolved in water was studied. The removal efficiency, for both pollutants, was greater than 90% when a concentration of 900 mg*L −1 was used. The capacity of Sargassum spp . to be used in several cycles was demonstrated, maintaining its biosorbent capacity. The structural changes in Sargassum spp . after biosorption were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, demonstrating the presence of sulfates and phosphates on Sargassum spp. Therefore, this work proposes an efficient, economic, and sustainable removal system based on Sargassum spp. Graphical abstract Schematic representation of contaminant removal using Sargassum spp.