Experimental Evaluation of Microbial Metal Uptake by Individual Components of a Microbial Biosorption System

Abstract

Some microorganisms have the capacity to concentrate metal ions. Besides binding metal ions to cell walls, it is also possible that chemical complexation occurs between metal ions and extracellular enzymes. Experimental studies were conducted to evaluate metal uptake by cells and extracellular material. Dialysis studies demonstrated that extracellular material possesses a greater capacity of binding metals when binding is considered on the basis of chemical oxygen demand (COD).