METAL SEQUESTERING BY MICROORGANISMS IN AND FROM AQUATIC ENVIRONMENTS

我们建议研究将测试的假设，我们提出，微生物多磷酸盐机构（PPBs）的金属螯合的主要网站。我们将使用具有扫描透射模式（STGM）的透射电子显微镜（TEM）和相关的能量色散光谱仪（EDX）技术来确定哪种电池组件螯合最多的金属。将获得使用STEM的点模式设置从不同细胞组分获得的光谱。待分析的细胞成分是被膜（鞘）细胞壁。细胞质和PPBs。我们将使用适当的形状数学公式计算每个组件的细胞体积。将使用Princeton Gamma Tech IMIX-EDX定量测定每个单元区域中的金属量。从这些数据中，我们将计算出每个单元区域或组件中的金属螯合量。我们建议使用测试生物体（1）柏氏丛丝菌，（2）金黄色葡萄球菌，（3）我们从废水中分离的菌株和（4）活性污泥生物质。如果我们的假设成立，我们将开发一种金属去除系统，其中具有大量PPB的细胞被包裹在κ-角叉菜胶或藻酸钠中。需氧系统将转换为厌氧环境。这个PPB应该被拆除，金属被释放到上清液中。这应该允许金属多次浓缩。

We propose research will test the hypothesis where we propose that microbial polyphosphate bodies (PPBs) are the main sites of metal sequestering. We will use our technology of a transmission electron microscope (TEM) with a scanning transmission mode (STGM) and an associated energy dispersive spectrometer (EDX) to determine which cell component sequesters the most metal. Spectra obtained with the spot mode setting of the STEM from different cell components will be obtained. The cell components to be analyzed are capsule (sheath) cell wall. cytoplasm, and PPBs. We will calculate the volume of the cell each of these components has using the appropriate mathematical formula for the shape. The amount of the metal in each cell area will be determined quantitatively using the Princeton Gamma Tech IMIX-EDX. From this data we will calculate amount of metal sequestered in each cell area or component. We propose using for test organisms (1) Plectonema boryanum, (2) Staphylococcus aureus, (3) our isolates from waste water and (4) an activated sludge biomass. If our hypothesis is sustained we will develop a metal removing system where cells with large numbers of PPBs are enrobed in either kappa-carrageenan or Na-alginate. The aerobic system will be converted to an anaerobic environment. This PPB should be dismantled with the metal being released into the supernant. This should allow the metal to be concentrated many times.