Biosorption: a new rise for elemental solid phase extraction methods

Biosorption is a term that usually describes the removal of heavy metals from an aqueous solution through their passive binding to a biomass. Bacteria, yeast, algae and fungi are microorganisms that have been immobilized and employed as sorbents in biosorption processes. The binding characteristics of microorganisms are attributed to functional groups on the surface providing some features to the biosorption process like selectivity, specificity and easy release. These characteristics turn the biosorption into an ideal process to be introduced in solid phase extraction systems for analytical approaches. This review encompasses the research carried out since 2000, focused on the employment of biosorption processes as an analytical tool to improve instrumental analysis. Since aminoacids and peptides as synthetic analogues of natural metallothioneins, proteins present in the cell wall of microorganisms, have been also immobilized on solid supports (controlled pore glass, carbon nanotubes, silica gel polyurethane foam, etc.) and introduced into solid phase extraction systems; a survey attending this issue will be developed as well in this review.