Biosorption of Metals from Dilute Aqueous Solutions

Dilute aqueous solutions, generated or used by industry, can contain a variety of different metal ions. Various processes are suitable for reclamation of toxic metals and among them, attention is paid here to biosorption. The ability of microorganisms to remove metal ions from solution is a well known phenomenon. Industrial applications of biosorption often make use of dead biomass, which does not require nutrients and can be exposed to environments of high toxicity. Experimental laboratory batch experiments are described for actinomycetes, fungi and for activated sludge, as the metal biosorbents, providing insight into cadmium biosorption. Non-living biomass showed greater binding capacities for cadmium (a priority pollutant) than living biomass. Engineering considerations are central in decisions concerning the commercial future of biosorption and a practical solution is needed for certain problems, such as the efficient separation of metal-loaded biomass.