Biosorption of Heavy Metals by Anoxybacillus gonensis Immobilized on Diaion HP-2MG

Abstract

The determination of trace metal ions usually requires previous separation and preconcentration stages in order to cope with low levels and to remove the interfering components. Nowadays emphasis is given to the utilization of microorganisms because of their great ability to absorb metal ions from aqueous solution. In this paper, for this, Zn²⁺, Fe³⁺, Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, and Pb²⁺ ions at trace levels have been separated and preconcentrated on a column containing a bacterium, Anoxybacillus gonensis immobilized on Diaion HP-2MG as a new biosorption system prior to their atomic absorption spectrometric determinations. The effects of some analytical parameters were investigated. Optimum pH values were found to be 6 for Zn, Fe, Cu and Pb, 8 for Cd, Ni, and Co. Recoveries of Zn²⁺, Fe³⁺, Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, and Pb²⁺ were 95 ± 3, 98 ± 6, 96 ± 2, 98 ± 2, 97 ± 2, 95 ± 4 and 95 ± 3 at 95% confidence level, respectively. No significant matrix interferences on the quantitative recoveries of the analyte ions were observed. Preconcentration factors of the anlayte ions were calculated as 50 for Zn, Cd and Pb, and 75 for Fe, Cu, Ni, and Co. The limits of detection for the analyte ions were in the range 0.2–1.3 µg L^?1. The procedure was validated by spike addition and analysis of standard reference materials.