Immobilization of Inorganic Sulfide on Dead Coral (Acropora cervicornis) Coated with Chitosan as an Adsorbent for Dissolved Mercury(II) Ions

Treatment of dissolved mercury within water sources is crucial. This study reported the utilization and efficacy of chitosan-sulfide immobilized on dead corals (Acropora cervicornis) as an absorbent for dissolved mercury (II). Sulfide ions were immobilized on coral particles coated with chitosan (coral-Chi). Chitosan and sulfide were either mixed or stepwise immobilized on dead coral particles. The amount of mercury absorbed by this treated absorbent (coral-Chi-Na2S) was studied and compared to the control (coral only or coral-Chi). The adsorption process is a bath method within a chromatography column. The absorbent characteristics and the amount of mercury(II) absorbed were characterized. The results showed that the highest percentage of adsorption used adsorben coral-Chi-Na2S, which was 71% with an eluent flow of 0.5 mls-1 within the absorbent column. The capacity of adsorption ion Hg2+ after prior eluting in the column for 24 h contact time was 0.4057 mg/g, 0.4017 mg/g, and 0.3746 mg/g in coral-Chi-Na2S, coral, and coral-Chi respectively