Effects of heavy metals on the electrokinetic properties of bacteria, yeast, and clay minerals

Thesis/Dissertation · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:7160807

Collins, Y E

The electrokinetic patterns of four bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus megaterium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Agrobacterium radiobacter), two yeasts (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Canida albicans), and two clay minerals (montmorillonite, kaolinite) in the presence of the chloride salts of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Zn) and of Na and Mg were determined by microelectrophoresis. The cells and clays were net negatively charged at pH values above their isoelectric point (pI) in solutions of Na, Mg, Hg, and Pb with an ionic strength (..mu..) of 3 x 10/sup -4/. However, at pH values above pH 5.0, the charge of some bacteria, S. cerevisiae, and kaolinite changed to a net positive charge (charge reversal) in the presence of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Zn. The charge of the bacteria and S. cerevisiae also reversed in solution of Ni and Cu with a ..mu.. > 3 x 10/sup -4/, whereas there was no reversal in solutions with a ..mu.. < 3 x 10/sup -4/. The clays became net positively charged when the ..mu.. of Cu was > 3 x 10/sup -4/ and that of Ni was > 1.5 x 10/sup -4/. The charge of the cells and clays also reversed in solutions containing both Mg and Ni or both Cu and Ni (except montmorillonite) but not in solutions containing both Mg and Cu (except kaolinite) (..mu.. = 3 x 10/sup -4/). The pI of the cells in the presence of some heavy metals, especially Ni and Cr, was at higher pH values than in the presence of Na and Mg.

• Research Organization: New York Univ., NY (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7160807
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism &amp; Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALKALI METALS
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM SILICATES
BACTERIA
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CADMIUM
CANDIDA
CHROMIUM
CLAYS
COPPER
ELECTROPHORESIS
ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY
ELEMENTS
FUNGI
INORGANIC ION EXCHANGERS
ION EXCHANGE MATERIALS
IONIC POTENTIAL
KAOLINITE
LEAD
MAGNESIUM
MATERIALS
MERCURY
METALS
MICROORGANISMS
MINERALS
MONTMORILLONITE
NICKEL
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
PHYSIOLOGY
PLANTS
SACCHAROMYCES
SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE
SILICATE MINERALS
SILICATES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SODIUM
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
YEASTS
ZINC