Abstract
Fungi can accumulate metal and radionuclide species by physico-chemical and biological mechanisms including extracellular binding by metabolites and biopolymers, binding to specific polypeptides and metabolism-dependent accumulation. Biosorptive processes appear to have the most potential for environmental biotechnology. 'Biosorption' consists of accumulation by predominatly metabolism-independent interactions, such as adsorptive or ion-exchange processes: the biosorptive capacity of the biomass can be manipulated by a range of physical and chemical treatments. Immobilized biomass retains biosorptive properties and possesses a number of advantages for process applications. Native or immobilized biomass can be used in fixed-bed, air-lift or fluidized bed bioreactors; biosorbed metal/radionuclide species can be removed for reclamation and the biomass regenerated by simple chemical treatments.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 126-130 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Journal of Industrial Microbiology |
| Volume | 13 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Mar 1994 |
Keywords
- Biosorption
- Fungi
- Immobilized biosorbent
- Pollution treatment
- Toxic metals
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology