Biosorption of copper from aqueous environment by three aquatics-based sorbents: A comparison of the relative effect of seven important parameters

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the removal potential of copper from aqueous solutions using three aquatic origin biosorbents (scales of two fish species and shells of a mollusk), for the first time. A Box–Behnken design was used to investigate the effects of the seven important variables on the sorption capacities. The effects of initial concentration, pH and dosage, on all the response variables were significant. pH and initial concentration were the most influential factors. The order of maximum adsorption capacities of the biosorbents was: shells of Cerastoderma glaucum