Author(s)

M. Deschatre, F. Ghillebaert, J. Guezennec, C. Simon-Colin

Abstract

Metal bioremediation was studied by biosorption of analytical grade copper Cu(II) and silver Ag(I) by an exopolysaccharide (EPS) produced by marine bacteria from French Polynesia. Colorimetric analysis showed that EPS was composed of neutral sugars, uronic acids, acetate and especially high sulfate amount (29%). Metal biosorption experiments were conducted in batch process. Results showed that the maximum sorption capacities calculated according to Langmuir model were 400 mg g⁻¹ EPS (6.29 mmol g⁻¹) and 256 mg g⁻¹ EPS (2.38 mmol g⁻¹) for Cu(II) and Ag(I), respectively. The influence of pH, biosorbent concentration, ionic strength on EPS biosorption capacities was investigated.

Results showed that bacterial EPS can be considered as very promising for copper and silver bioremediation. Further development in dynamic and continuous process at the industrial scale will be organized next.

Keywords

biosorption, bacterial exopolysaccharides, copper and silver removal, bioremediation