Surface characterization of dead microalgae‐based biomass using methylene blue adsorption

To examine the surface characterization of dead chlorella biomass, the chlorella‐manufacturing residue was used as an adsorbent for removal of cationic dye (i.e. methylene blue) from aqueous solutions at low concentrations (less than 5 mg dm −3 ). It could be elucidated by considering the ion‐exchange adsorption phenomena on the negative‐charged surface of the adsorbent based on the characterization of functional groups by the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis. On the basis of monolayer dye adsorption capacity, the specific surface area of this spherical biomass powder was estimated as 11.8 m 2 g −1 , which was consistent with the rigid cell wall structure of the dead chlorella particles as shown in the SEM observation.