DEVELOPMENT OF MAGNETIC BIOSORBENTS FOR METAL UPTAKE

Two types of magnetic biosorbent were prepared by novel protocols from epichlorhydrin-cross-linked Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell walls and t heir biosorption characteristics were compared to those of non-magneti c cell walls. The magnetic biosorbents I and II were capable of bindin g Cu2+ maximally to 225 and 50 mu mol/g, Cd2+ to 90 and 25 mu mol/g an d Ag+ to 80 and 45 mu mol/g respectively. These values compare with 40 0, 125 and 75 mu mol/g, respectively, for non-magnetic cell walls.