GOLD UPTAKE BY CHLORELLA-VULGARIS

This paper describes a study on the uptake of gold (III) ions by viabl e and treated cells of the unicellular alga, Chlorella vulgaris. Inact ivating the algal cells by various physical/chemical treatments result ed in a considerable enhancement in the uptake capacity over the prist ine cells. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) analyses confirmed t he deposition of elemental gold, Au (O), on the cell surface, indicati ng that a reduction process has taken place. XPS results also suggeste d an increase in the oxidized carbon species, carboxyl species in part icular, on the surfaces of the treated cells. FTIR spectroscopy result s revealed that the carboxyl group was involved mainly in the binding of the gold on the surface of both the viable and treated cells.