RECOVERY OF TOXIC HEAVY METALS FROM CONTAMINATED WATER SUPPLIES USING PLANTS

有毒重金属离子在供水中的积累是一个问题， 越来越多的健康问题。 金属离子如铅、铜、镉， 汞、铬和镍会引起人类的急性和慢性疾病 和其他动物的食物。 目前，开发低成本、高性能的 从沃茨中去除有毒重金属离子的有效方法是 对健康非常重要。 我们建议研究金属结合 生物衍生材料的性质，目前存在于 在美国西南部有大量的。 一些 所选的生物材料生长在冶炼厂周围和重金属中， 废弃矿山的丰富尾矿，很少有其他工厂将 生存 因此，这些植物可能在生物学上适应于结合金属 离子。 四个并行的研究领域将是活跃的。 1)研究 俄罗斯蓟（Salsola 物种）。Larrea divaricata（杂酚油灌木）和泥炭藓。 2）。 使用光谱和电化学技术以及化学 改性方法，以研究金属离子结合的机制， 生物材料。 3)硅基和藻酸盐基细胞的研究 为了在柱中使用生物材料， 流动条件 4）。 研究净化当地水的可能性 被重金属离子污染的供应品， 生物材料。 这项研究的长期目标是了解 有毒金属离子与生物材料结合的机理， 因此，这种理解将能够优化有毒物质， 利用生物衍生物从污染的沃茨中去除金属 材料. 因此，拟议的研究与以下方面有直接关系： 环境卫生。

Accumulation of toxic heavy metal ions in water supplies is a matter of increasing health concern. Metal ions such as lead, copper, cadmium, mercury, chromium, and nickel cause acute and chronic illnesses in humans and other animals. At the present time, development of low cost and highly effective methods for the removal of toxic heavy metal ions from waters is of great health importance. We propose to study the metal binding properties of biologically-derived materials that are currently present in large quantities in the southwestern part of the united Stats. Some of the biological materials selected grow around smelters and in the heavy metal- rich tailings of abandoned mines, areas where few other plants will survive. Thus, these plants may be biologically adapted to bind metal ions. Four concurrent areas of research will be active. 1) Study of the toxic heavy metal ion binding properties of Russian thistle (Salsola species). Larrea divaricata (creosote bush), and Sphagnum peat moss. 2). Use of spectroscopic and electrochemical techniques as well as chemical modification methods to investigate the mechanism of metal ion binding to the biomaterial. 3) Study of silica-based and alginate-based cell immobilization techniques in order to use the biomaterial in columns under flow conditions. 4). Examine the possibility of purifying local water supplies contaminated with heavy metal ions by using the immobilized biological materials. The long term goal of this research is to understand the mechanisms of toxic metal ion binding to the biological materials and consequently, this understanding will enable the optimization of toxic metal removal from contaminated waters using biologically derived materials. Thus, the proposed research has a direct relevance upon environmental health.