Theme

Science and Technology

Milkfish (Chanos chanos) Bones as a Biosorbent for Mercury (II) Contamination in Water

Authors

Seth Uriel K. Neri, La Salle UniversityFollow
Ethan Kyle Mangao, La Salle UniversityFollow
Christian Kevin F. Redoblado, La Salle UniversityFollow
Anthony Cesar Y. Ponce, La Salle UniversityFollow
Roby Boy P. Riego, La Salle UniversityFollow
Jupiter O. Yap, La Salle UniversityFollow

Research Advisor

Jupiter O. Yap

Abstract

Heavy metals, such as mercury contamination in water sources are a major environmental and public health issue in many countries. Traditional methods for removing heavy metals from water are effective but often costly and unsustainable and may produce secondary waste. Recent trends favor more sustainable alternatives, such as biosorbents in treating water with heavy metals. Milkfish (Chanos chanos), a common fish in the Philippines, contains hydroxyapatite in the bones that can bind with heavy metals through physical and chemical adsorption mechanisms. This study aims to evaluate the mercury (II) reduction capacity of biosorbent derived from milkfish bones in water, specifically by investigating the effects of contact time and concentration. Utilizing a true pre-post experimental research design, the biosorbent was applied to mercury-contaminated water at 12 and 24 hours of contact. Analysis from atomic absorption spectroscopy shows that the percent removal of mercury after 12 and 24 hours is 98.83% and 99.36%, respectively. Moreover, the results demonstrate that mercury concentrations before and after biosorbent treatment are significantly different, highlighting the strong adsorption capability of the biosorbent. Furthermore, the results also reveal a non-significant difference in the contact times, underscoring the biosorbent's efficiency and potential cost-effective application in 12-hour treatments. These findings suggest that biosorbents derived from milkfish bones can serve as a viable solution for mercury-contaminated water treatment. Further research should be conducted to evaluate biosorption in varying conditions and examine the biosorbent mechanism, regeneration, and reusability.

Recommended Citation

Neri, S. U. K., Mangao, E. K., Redoblado, C. K. F., Ponce, A. C. Y., Riego, R. B.Y., & Yap, J. O. (2025). Milkfish (Chanos chanos) bones as a biosorbent for Mercury (II) contamination in water. Sinaya, (3)1, 102–123. https://doi.org/10.59588/3027-9283.1161