BIOSORPTION OF CADMIUM, COPPER AND LEAD BY ISOLATED MOTHER CELL-WALLSAND WHOLE CELLS OF CHLORELLA-FUSCA

Using a new method for the isolation of released mother cell walls of Chlorella fusca, the biosorption of cadmium, copper and lead by purifi ed cell wall isolates and whole cell suspensions was comparatively cha racterized. In all cases whole cells accumulated more metal ions than isolated cell walls. Both the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models were suitable for describing the short-term adsorption of cadmium, cop per and lead by cell walls and the cadmium and copper adsorption by wh ole cells. However, neither model could sufficiently explain the lead accumulation by whole cells. The feasibility of a practical use of who le cells or isolated cell walls as biosorbents is discussed.