Red algae transforming polluted water into clean water.

Lead Removal Breakthrough: How Red Algae Could Revolutionize Wastewater Treatment

Theo Raines in Climate & Environment December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover the potential of Gracilaria changii in creating sustainable and cost-effective solutions for heavy metal pollution."

Water pollution from heavy metals is a pressing global issue, threatening both environmental health and human well-being. Industries such as mining, petroleum refining, and electroplating release wastewater laden with toxic metals like lead (Pb), posing severe risks to ecosystems and public health. Traditional methods for removing these pollutants are often costly, inefficient, or complex, especially when dealing with low concentrations.

Among the various heavy metals, lead is particularly concerning due to its widespread use in industries like battery manufacturing, paint production, and explosives. Once released into the environment, lead can accumulate in the food chain, leading to neurological disorders, hypertension, anemia, and even death. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets stringent limits for lead in drinking water, highlighting the urgent need for effective and affordable removal technologies.

In the quest for sustainable solutions, researchers have turned to innovative materials like activated carbon derived from natural sources. A recent study investigated the potential of activated carbon made from red algae (Gracilaria changii) to remove lead from synthetic aqueous solutions. This approach leverages the algae's unique properties to create an efficient, eco-friendly, and cost-effective method for wastewater treatment.

Red Algae: A Natural Solution for Lead Removal

Red algae transforming polluted water into clean water.

The study, conducted by researchers at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS in Malaysia, explored the effectiveness of red algae-derived activated carbon in removing lead from contaminated water. Activated carbon, known for its high surface area and porosity, is typically produced from expensive commercial sources. This research aimed to harness the unique properties of red algae, specifically Gracilaria changii, to create a more sustainable and affordable alternative.

Gracilaria changii, abundant in coastal regions of Oceania, Africa, and Asia, offers several advantages as a source material for activated carbon. Its small, uniform particle size and numerous metal-binding sites make it particularly effective in capturing heavy metals. Furthermore, utilizing this resource helps control environmental degradation and eutrophication caused by excessive algae growth in oceans.

Material Preparation: Red algae biomass was collected, washed, dried, and ground into fine particles.
Activation Process: The algae particles were pre-treated with hydrochloric acid (HCl) and then thermally activated at 300°C for one hour to create activated carbon.
Experimental Setup: Batch experiments were conducted to assess the lead removal efficiency of the activated carbon under varying conditions.

The researchers meticulously examined various factors influencing the adsorption process, including pH levels, contact time, initial ion concentrations, and the dosage of activated carbon. By optimizing these parameters, they sought to maximize the lead uptake capacity of the red algae-derived activated carbon.

The Future of Wastewater Treatment: Sustainable Solutions for a Cleaner World

This study highlights the potential of red algae-derived activated carbon as a sustainable and effective solution for removing lead from wastewater. By optimizing the production process and understanding the key factors influencing adsorption, this technology can be scaled up for real-world applications. Further research is needed to explore the long-term stability and regeneration potential of this material, as well as its effectiveness in treating complex industrial wastewater. Nevertheless, this investigation marks a significant step forward in the development of eco-friendly and affordable solutions for heavy metal pollution, paving the way for cleaner and healthier ecosystems.

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Everything You Need To Know

Why is lead (Pb) contamination in water a significant environmental and health concern?

Lead contamination is a major concern because industries like battery manufacturing and paint production release it into the environment. Lead accumulates in the food chain, leading to severe health issues such as neurological disorders, hypertension, and anemia. Due to these risks, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set strict limits for lead in drinking water, underscoring the need for effective removal technologies. Traditional methods for removing lead are costly and inefficient, especially at low concentrations which makes innovation such as Gracilaria changii important.

What is Gracilaria changii, and why is it being explored as a solution for lead removal from water?

Gracilaria changii is a type of red algae found abundantly in coastal regions of Oceania, Africa, and Asia. It's being explored for lead removal because activated carbon derived from it has a high surface area and numerous metal-binding sites, making it effective at capturing heavy metals like lead. Additionally, using Gracilaria changii helps manage environmental degradation and eutrophication caused by excessive algae growth. This can provide a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to more expensive commercial sources of activated carbon.

How is activated carbon made from Gracilaria changii, and what are the key steps in its preparation?

To create activated carbon from Gracilaria changii, the red algae biomass is first collected, washed, dried, and ground into fine particles. Then, the algae particles undergo a pre-treatment with hydrochloric acid (HCl) followed by thermal activation at 300°C for one hour. This process enhances the material's adsorption capabilities, making it effective for lead removal. Optimizing these parameters helps maximize the lead uptake capacity of the red algae-derived activated carbon.

What factors were considered in the study to optimize the lead removal efficiency of activated carbon derived from Gracilaria changii?

The study meticulously examined several factors to optimize the lead removal efficiency of activated carbon derived from Gracilaria changii. These include pH levels, contact time between the activated carbon and the contaminated water, initial ion concentrations of lead, and the dosage of activated carbon used. By carefully adjusting these parameters, researchers aimed to maximize the amount of lead that the activated carbon could adsorb, thus improving the overall effectiveness of the treatment process.

What are the potential implications of using red algae-derived activated carbon for wastewater treatment, and what further research is needed?

Using red algae-derived activated carbon for wastewater treatment offers a sustainable, eco-friendly, and cost-effective alternative to traditional methods. It has the potential to significantly reduce heavy metal pollution, leading to cleaner and healthier ecosystems. Further research should focus on the long-term stability and regeneration potential of this material. Additionally, studies are needed to assess its effectiveness in treating complex industrial wastewater containing a mix of pollutants, ensuring its viability for real-world applications. Further research on the life cycle impacts of using hydrochloric acid in the activation process is important.