Industry/University Cooperative Research Activity Grants: Removal and Selective Recovery of Heavy Metal Ions from Industrial Wastewater

在以前的研究中，已经确定了固定在聚合物珠中的无生命藻类生物量可以有效地吸收或结合污染工艺废水中的一些有毒金属离子。建议继续开展这方面的研究：1)继续筛选具有金属离子去除和回收潜力的藻类属或种；2)其次，将金属离子结合的筛选扩展到其他细胞，特别是高等植物细胞；3)扩展初步工作，以确定藻类细胞壁上允许金属离子结合的特定官能团。新的研究结果将为藻类聚合物在从污染水、地热水、采矿水和工业过程流中去除和回收特定有毒、珍贵和战略性金属离子方面的应用提供有价值的见解。

In previous research it was established that non-living algal biomass immobilized in polymer beads effectively absorbs or binds a number of toxic metal ions from polluted process effluents. It is proposed to continue this investigation by: 1) continuing, the screening of algal genera or species for metal ion removal and recovery potential; 2) secondarily, extending the screening for metal ion binding to other cells, particularly, higher plant cells; and 3) extending primary efforts to identify the specific functional groups on the algal cell walls that permit metal ion binding. New investigation results will provide valuable insight into the application of algal polymers to the removal and the recovery of particular toxic, precious, and strategic metal ions from polluted-, geothermal-, and mining-water, and from industrial process streams.