Paper Title
ARSENIC REMOVAL FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS USING SODIUM ALGINATE AND PLEUROTUS OSTREATUS (OYSTER MUSHROOM) BEADS

Abstract
Arsenic contamination in groundwater is a significant global health concern, affecting millions of people worldwide. This study focuses on the removal of arsenic ions (As(V)) from aqueous solutions using alginate beads incorporating Pleurotus ostreatus mushroom powder as a biosorbent. The effects of pH, bead composition, and bead hydration state on the removal efficiency of As(V) were investigated. The study found that pH significantly influenced the removal efficiency, with pH 5 showing a significant increase in As(V) removal percentage. This was attributed to the formation of strong bonds between the biosorbents and arsenic ions at pH 5. The chemical composition of the beads also played a crucial role, with an increase in Pleurotus ostreatus mushroom powder concentration from 4% to 6% leading to a significant increase in removal efficiency. However, increasing the alginate concentration from 4% to 6% did not show a significant difference, possibly due to the compactness of the beads at higher alginate concentrations. Additionally, the hydration state of the beads affected the removal efficiency, with dried beads showing higher removal efficiency compared to fresh beads. This was attributed to the smaller size of dried beads, providing a larger contact surface area for adsorption. FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of hydroxyl (-OH), alkyl, NH2 and carboxyl (-COO) groups in the synthesized beads, which are assumed to be responsible for the uptake of arsenic ions. Overall, the study demonstrates the potential of alginate beads incorporating Pleurotus ostreatus mushroom powder as an effective and environmentally friendly biosorbent for arsenic removal. Further optimization of the biosorbent composition and hydration state could enhance the removal efficiency, making it a promising approach for arsenic remediation in contaminated water. Keywords - alginate and mushroom beads, arsenic, atomic absorption spectrophotometer, FTIR.