URANIUM UPTAKE BY IMMOBILIZED CELLS OF PSEUDOMONAS STRAIN EPS-5028

Polyacrylamide-gel-immobilized cells of Pseudomonas strain EPS 5028 we re effective in the removal of uranium (U) from synthetic effluents. M etal accumulation was performed in an open system in columns filled wi th immobilized cells that were challenged with continuous flows contai ning U. Possible variables of the system were studied. Uranium uptake by the immobilized cells of this microorganism was affected by pH but not by temperature or flow rate. In addition, U binding could be inter preted in terms of the Freundlich adsorption isotherm indicating singl e-layer adsorption. The feasibility of reusing the immobilized cells w as suggested after the recovery of U with a solution of 0.1 m sodium c arbonate.