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Optimization of copper sorbing–desorbing cycles with confined cultures of the exopolysaccharide‐producing cyanobacterium Cyanospira capsulata
Author(s) -
Paperi R.,
Micheletti E.,
De Philippis R.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.889
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2672
pISSN - 1364-5072
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2006.03021.x
Subject(s) - library science , humanities , art , computer science
Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the copper removal capability of the exopolysaccharide‐producing cyanobacterium Cyanospira capsulata confined into various filtering devices and to assess its reuse for several metal sorbing‐desorbing cycles. Methods and Results: C. capsulata cultures were confined into three dialysis devices and two hollow fibre systems with different surface to volume ratios. The maximum amount of Cu was removed by the biomass confined into dialysis cassettes, followed by the dialysis tubing systems and by the two hollow fibre devices. The experiments on the sorbing‐desorbing cycles showed that, with the most effective desorbing agents, the same biomass can be utilized for eight consecutive sorbing‐desorbing cycles. Conclusions: The efficiency of the metal removal process is directly related to a high surface to volume ratio of the confining system and the biomass can be utilized for multiple sorbing‐desorbing cycles without significant loss in the metal removal efficiency. Significance and Impact of study: The feasibility of a metal removal process using EPS‐producing cyanobacteria confined into filtering devices has been shown, pointing out the potential of this technique for industrial applications in the removal of metals from waste waters or in the recovery of valuable metals from water solutions.