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The mechanism of cobalt biosorption
Author(s) -
Kuyucak N.,
Volesky B.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
biotechnology and bioengineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.136
H-Index - 189
eISSN - 1097-0290
pISSN - 0006-3592
DOI - 10.1002/bit.260330705
Subject(s) - biosorption , cobalt , mechanism (biology) , biochemical engineering , chemistry , environmental chemistry , engineering , adsorption , inorganic chemistry , physics , organic chemistry , sorption , quantum mechanics
Nonliving biomass of the common seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum is capable of accumulating cobalt from aqueous solutions to the extent of 160 mg Co 2+ /g. Successful desorption of cobalt from the biomass by acidic CaCl 2 solutions revealed that the metal uptake phenomenon is reversible, implying physical sorption of cobalt. Chemical and instrumental analysis including electron microscopy, infrared (IR) spectroscopy, X‐ray dispersion and diffraction analysis provided supporting evidence that the biosorption mechanism involves predominantly ion exchange. Alginates of the cell wall (‐COOH groups) play an important role in cobalt binding. Coordination and sorption in the cell wall structure occur simultaneously and rapidly whereas penetration of cobalt into the cell occurs at a lower rate.