The mechanism of thorium biosorption by Rhizopus arrhizus

Journal Article · Thu Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1982 · Biotechnol. Bioeng.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/bit.260240415· OSTI ID:6928624

Tsezos, M; Volesky, B

Inactive cells of Rhizopus arrhizus have been documented to exhibit a high thorium biosorptive uptake (170 mg/g) from aqueous solutions. The mechanism of thorium sequestering by this biomass type was investigated following the same method as for the uranium biosorption emchanism. The thorium sequestering mechanism appeared somewhat different from that of uranium. Experimental evidence is presented which indicates that, at optimum biosorption pH (4), thorium coordinates with the nitroge of the chitin cell wall network and, in addition, more thorium is adsorbed by the external section of the fungal cell wall. At pH 2 the overall thorium uptake is reduced. The kinetic study of thorium biosorption revealed a very rapid rate of uptake. Unlike uranium at optimum solution pH, Fe/sup 2 +/ and Zn/sup 2 +/ did not interfere significantly with the thorium biosorptive uptake capacity of R. arrhizus.

• Research Organization: McGill Univ., Montreal, Quebec, Canada
• OSTI ID: 6928624
• Journal Information: Biotechnol. Bioeng.; (United States), Vol. 24:4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
RHIZOPUS
RADIONUCLIDE KINETICS
THORIUM
ADSORPTION
AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
CELL WALL
UPTAKE
ACTINIDES
CELL CONSTITUENTS
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
FUNGI
METALS
MIXTURES
PLANTS
SOLUTIONS
SORPTION
560163* - Radionuclide Effects-Internal Source- Plants- (-1987)