DYNAMICS OF ORGANIC MICROPOLLUTANT BIOSORPTION TO CYANOBACTERIA AND DETRITUS

Equilibrium and rate parameters of chlorobenzene biosorption to the cy anobacterium Anabaena and various types of algal detritus were measure d using gas purge desorption experiments. Organic carbon normalized so rption coefficients (K-oc) and slopes of log K-oc - log K-ow plots for algae and detritus increased significantly with increasing C/N atomic ratios of the adsorbents. A statistical analysis showed that the deso rption kinetics could be described best with a two-compartment model. The compartments were interpreted as a lipid pool in the surface of th e cells and a similar pool deeper in the cell interior. The kinetic pa rameters measured were such that in most aquatic systems biosorption e quilibrium can be assumed.