EFFECTS OF CELLULAR-METABOLISM AND VIABILITY ON METAL-ION ACCUMULATION BY CULTURED BIOMASS FROM A BLOOM OF THE CYANOBACTERIUM MICROCYSTIS-AERUGINOSA

The sorption of nickel, cadmium, and copper by cultured biomass from a naturally occurring bloom of Microcystis aeruginosa was demonstrated in two systems: cells suspended in culture medium and cells immobilize d in alginate. Incubation in the absence of light, in the presence of metabolic inhibitors, and at 4 degrees C did not substantially decreas e the copper accumulation by cells in culture medium. Heat-killed, for maldehyde-treated, and air-dried biomass samples sorbed nearly as much (or in some cases slightly more) copper as did viable samples.