NMR IMAGING OF HEAVY-METAL ABSORPTION IN ALGINATE, IMMOBILIZED CELLS,AND KOMBU ALGAL BIOSORBENTS

In this contribution, an NMR imaging study of heavy metal absorption i n alginate, immobolized-cell biosorbents, and kombu (Laminaria japonic a) algal biomass is presented. This method provides the good possibili ty of directly monitoring the time evolution of the spatial distributi on of the ions in the materials. From these results, we demonstrate th at rare earth ions are absorbed with a steep reaction front that can b e described very well with a modified shrinking core model, while copp er ions are absorbed with a more diffuse front. (C) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.