Biosorption of heavy metals

Journal Article · Mon May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995 · Biotechnology Progress

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/bp00033a001· OSTI ID:508624

Volesky, B ^[1]; Holan, Z R ^[1]

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1. McGill Univ., Montreal (Canada)

Only within the past decade has the potential of metal biosorption by biomass materials been well established. For economic reasons, of particular interest are abundant biomass types generated as a waste byproduct of large-scale industrial fermentations or certain metal-binding algae found in large quantities in the sea. These biomass types serve as a basis for newly developed metal biosorption processes foreseen particularly as a very competitive means for the detoxification of metal-bearing industrial effluents. The assessment of the metal-building capacity of some new biosorbents is discussed. Lead and cadmium, for instance, have been effectively removed from very dilute solutions by the dried biomass of some ubiquitous species of brown marine algae such as Ascophyllum and Sargassum, which accumulate more than 30% of biomass dry weight in the metal. Mycelia of the industrial steroid-transforming fungi Rhizopus and Absidia are excellent biosorbents for lead, cadmium, copper, zinc, and uranium and also bind other heavy metals up to 25% of the biomass dry weight. Biosorption isotherm curves, derived from equilibrium batch sorption experiments, are used in the evaluation of metal uptake by different biosorbents. Further studies are focusing on the assessment of biosorbent performance in dynamic continuous-flow sorption systems. In the course of this work, new methodologies are being developed that are aimed at mathematical modeling of biosorption systems and their effective optimization. 115 refs., 7 figs., 3 tabs.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 508624
• Journal Information: Biotechnology Progress, Journal Name: Biotechnology Progress Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 11; ISSN 8756-7938; ISSN BIPRET
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
55 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BASIC STUDIES
ALGAE
BIOMASS
CADMIUM
COPPER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
REMEDIAL ACTION
RHIZOPUS
SOILS
SORPTION
UPTAKE
URANIUM