The use of Bacillus subtilis immobilized on Amberlite XAD-4 as a new biosorbent in trace metal determination

A novel bio-solid phase extractor for preconcentrations of Hg and Sn in food samples

An ecofriendly preconcentration method was developed based on the use of Geobacillus galactosidasius sp. nov immobilized on Amberlite XAD-4 as an adsorbent for the preconcentrations of Hg and Sn. SEM-EDX performed for the investigation of surface functionality and morphology. The detailed investigations of factors such as pH of the solution, flow rate, interfering ions and sample volume have been thanks to the optimization of the pre-concentration system. The optimum pHs were found as 5.0-7.0 for Hg and Sn and also the optimum flow rates were determined as 2 mL min^-1 for recovery of Hg and Sn. Under the best experimental conditions, limits of detections (LOD) were found as 0.53 ng mL^-1 for Hg and 0.27 ng mL^-1 for Sn. RSDs were calculated as 8.2% for Hg and 6.9% for Sn. The process was validated to use certified references (fish samples). ICP-OES was used to measure the levels of Hg and Sn in various real meal patterns after the devised technique was used. Concentrations of Hg and Sn were quantitively measured on gluten-free biscuit, flour, rice, Tuna fish, meat, chicken meat, potato, chocolate, coffee, tap water, energy drink and mineral water samples with low RSD. The developed method emerges as an innovative technology that will eliminate the low cost and toxic effect.

Immobilized microbial biosorbents for heavy metals removal

Intensive industrial and urban growth has led to the release of increasing amounts of environmental pollutants. Contamination by metals, in particular, deserves special attention due to their toxicity and potential to bioaccumulate via the food chain. Conventional techniques for the removal of toxic metals, radionuclides and precious metals from wastewater all have a number of drawbacks, such as incomplete metal extraction, high cost and risk of generating hazardous by-products. Biosorption is a cost-effective and environment-friendly technology, an alternative to conventional wastewater treatment methods. Biosorption is a metabolically independent process, in which dead microbial biomass is capable of removal and concentrating metal ions from aqueous solutions. Free microbial biosorbents are of small size and low density, insufficient mechanical stability and low elasticity, which causes problems with metal ion desorption, separation of the sorbent from the medium and its regeneration. Hence, the possibilities for the implementation of continuous biosorbent processes for metal removal in flow-type reactor systems are reduced and the practical application of biosorption in industrial conditions is limited. By immobilizing microbial biomass on suitable carriers the disadvantages of free biosorbents are eliminated and more opportunities for practical use of biosorption become available. This review examines different immobilization techniques and carriers, certain basic features and possibilities of using immobilized microbial biosorbents for the removal and concentration of metals from aqueous solutions.

Investigation on the Performance of Chemically Modified Aquatic Macrophytes-Salvinia molesta for the Micro-Solid Phase Preconcentration of Cd(II) On-Line Coupled to FAAS

In this study, a new method for the preconcentration of cadmium ions using modified aquatic macrophytes - Salvinia molesta as biosorbent in an on-line preconcentration system coupled to flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) was developed. The method is based on preconcentration of 20.0 mL sample at pH 3.75 through 35.0 mg of biosorbent at 10.0 mL min^-1 and subsequent elution with 0.5 mol L^-1 HNO₃. A preconcentration factor of 31-fold, linear dynamic range from 5.0 to 70.0 µg L^-1 (r = 0.9996) and detection and quantification limits of 0.15 and 0.51 µg L^-1 were obtained. The characterization of the biosorbent chemically modified with NaOH and citric acid, was performed through FTIR and SEM measurements. The method precision was found to be 3.97 % and 1.48 % for 5.0 and 60.0 µg L^-1 Cd(II) solutions, respectively. The applicability of method was checked by analysis of different kind of water samples and certified reference material.

Physiological fluxes and antioxidative enzymes activities of immobilized Phanerochaete chrysosporium loaded with TiO2 nanoparticles after exposure to toxic pollutants in solution

Immobilized Phanerochaete chrysosporium loaded with TiO2 nanoparticles (PTNs) are novel high-value bioremediation materials for adsorbing cadmium and for degrading 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP). The real-time changes in H(+) and O2 fluxes were measured using the noninvasive microtest technique (NMT). The H(+) influx increased after the addition of 2,4-DCP, and shifted to efflux following the addition of Cd(2+). The O2 flux decreased after the addition of both 2,4-DCP and Cd(2+). A larger Cd(2+) flux was immediately observed after exposure to 0.5mM Cd(2+) (-351.25 pmol cm(-2) s(-1)) than to 0.1 mM Cd(2+) (-107.47 pmol cm(-2) s(-1)). The removal of Cd(2+) by the PTNs increased more after treatment with the 0.5 mM exposure solution (27.6 mg g(-1)) than with the 0.1 mM exposure solution (3.49 mg g(-1)). The enzyme activities were analyzed to review the antioxidative defense system of PTNs in a solution containing various concentrations of Cd(2+). The activities of the coenzyme nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) oxidase as well as the enzyme catalase (CAT) plateaued at 6.5 U g(-1) FW and 9.7 U g(-1) FW, respectively, after exposure to 0.25 mM Cd(2+). The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) increased gradually in solutions containing 0.1-0.6 mM Cd(2+), and eventually reached a maximum (68.86 U g(-1) FW). These results illustrate how the antioxidative defense system and the physiological fluxes of PTNs respond to the stress caused by toxic pollutants.

New generation Amberlite XAD resin for the removal of metal ions: A review

The direct determination of toxic metal ions, in environmental samples, is difficult because of the latter's presence in trace concentration in association with complex matrices, thereby leading to insufficient sensitivity and selectivity of the methods used. The simultaneous removal of the matrix and preconcentration of the metal ions, through solid phase extraction, serves as the promising solution. The mechanism involved in solid phase extraction (SPE) depends on the nature of the sorbent and analyte. Thus, SPE is carried out by means of adsorption, ion exchange, chelation, ion pair formation, and so forth. As polymeric supports, the commercially available Amberlite resins have been found very promising for designing chelating matrices due to its good physical and chemical properties such as porosity, high surface area, durability and purity. This review presents an overview of the various works done on the modification of Amberlite XAD resins with the objective of making it an efficient sorbent. The methods of modifications which are generally based on simple impregnation, sorption as chelates and chemical bonding have been discussed. The reported results, including the preconcentration limit, the detection limit, sorption capacity, preconcentration factors etc., have been reproduced.

Bioremoval of heavy metals by bacterial biomass

Heavy metals are among the most common pollutants found in the environment. Health problems due to the heavy metal pollution become a major concern throughout the world, and therefore, various treatment technologies such as reverse osmosis, ion exchange, solvent extraction, chemical precipitation, and adsorption are adopted to reduce or eliminate their concentration in the environment. Biosorption is a cost-effective and environmental friendly technique, and it can be used for detoxification of heavy metals in industrial effluents as an alternative treatment technology. Biosorption characteristics of various bacterial species are reviewed here with respect to the results reported so far. The role of physical, chemical, and biological modification of bacterial cells for heavy metal removal is presented. The paper evaluates the different kinetic, equilibrium, and thermodynamic models used in bacterial sorption of heavy metals. Biomass characterization and sorption mechanisms as well as elution of metal ions and regeneration of biomass are also discussed.

Iron(III) modification of Bacillus subtilis membranes provides record sorption capacity for arsenic and endows unusual selectivity for As(V)

Bacillus subtilis is a spore forming bacterium that takes up both inorganic As(III) and As(V). Incubating the bacteria with Fe(III) causes iron uptake (up to ∼0.5% w/w), and some of the iron attaches to the cell membrane as hydrous ferric oxide (HFO) with additional HFO as a separate phase. Remarkably, 30% of the Bacillus subtilis cells remain viable after treatment by 8 mM Fe(III). At pH 3, upon metalation, As(III) binding capacity becomes ∼0, while that for As(V) increases more than three times, offering an unusual high selectivity for As(V) against As(III). At pH 10 both arsenic forms are sorbed, the As(V) sorption capacity of the ferrated Bacillus subtilis is at least of 11 times higher than that of the native bacteria. At pH 8 (close to pH of most natural water), the arsenic binding capacity per mole iron for the ferrated bacteria is greater than those reported for any iron containing sorbent. A sensitive arsenic speciation approach is thus developed based on the binding of inorganic arsenic species by the ferrated bacteria and its unusual high selectivity toward As(V) at low pH.

The use of a white rot fungi (Pleurotus ostreatus) immobilized on Amberlite XAD-4 as a new biosorbent in trace metal determination

The present work proposes the use of Pleurotus ostreatus immobilized on Amberlite XAD-4 as new biosorbent in trace metal determination. The effects of experimental parameters, such as "pH and flow rate of sample solution, amount of solid phase, eluent type, and concentration" on the recovery of the metal ions were investigated. Maximum adsorption of Cr(III), Cd(II) and Cu(II) ions took place in the pH range 4-5. These metal ions can be desorbed with 1M HCl (recovery 95-100%). 0.2g adsorbent amount and 2.5 mL min(-1) flow rate was found to be optimum of all preconcentration experiments. The sorption capacity after 10 cycles of sorption and desorption does not vary more than 2.0%. The influences of the contaminant ions on the retentions of the analytes were also examined. The results showed that P. ostreatus immobilized on Amberlite XAD-4 can be considered as very promising material in trace metal determination.

Biosorption: a new rise for elemental solid phase extraction methods

Biosorption is a term that usually describes the removal of heavy metals from an aqueous solution through their passive binding to a biomass. Bacteria, yeast, algae and fungi are microorganisms that have been immobilized and employed as sorbents in biosorption processes. The binding characteristics of microorganisms are attributed to functional groups on the surface providing some features to the biosorption process like selectivity, specificity and easy release. These characteristics turn the biosorption into an ideal process to be introduced in solid phase extraction systems for analytical approaches. This review encompasses the research carried out since 2000, focused on the employment of biosorption processes as an analytical tool to improve instrumental analysis. Since aminoacids and peptides as synthetic analogues of natural metallothioneins, proteins present in the cell wall of microorganisms, have been also immobilized on solid supports (controlled pore glass, carbon nanotubes, silica gel polyurethane foam, etc.) and introduced into solid phase extraction systems; a survey attending this issue will be developed as well in this review.

Characterization of metal removal of immobilized Bacillus strain CR-7 biomass from aqueous solutions

Bacillus strain CR-7 of multiple metal and antibiotic resistances was isolated. Its metal adsorption under different pretreatments and immobilizations from aqueous solution was characterized. Pretreatment with NaOH (0.1 mol L(-1)) significantly improved Cu(2+) adsorption capacity of the bacterial biomass. Sodium alginate (2%) was the ideal immobilization matrix. The immobilized and pretreated biomass had an obvious "orderliness", following the order of Cu(2+)>Zn(2+) in the solution containing these two metals, and following the order of Pb(2+)>Al(3+)>Cr(6+)>Cu(2+)>Fe(3+)>Zn(2+) = Ni(2+)>Cd(2+) = Co(2+)>Mn(2+) in the solution containing these 10 metals. ΔH° and ΔS° of Cu(2+) adsorption were +7.68 J/mol and +16.628 J/mol K, respectively. The infrared peak of -N-H shifted greatly after Cu(2+) adsorption. After adsorption treatment, some molecular groups disappeared in un-immobilized biomass but were still present in the immobilized biomass. Cu(2+) adsorption fit both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. It was concluded (1) that the Cu(2+) adsorption process was endothermic, (2) that -N-H is a most important Cu(2+)-binding group, (3) that immobilization prevents loss or damage of the Cu(2+)-binding molecular groups, and (4) that Cu(2+) adsorption of pretreated and immobilized biomass is homogeneous.

Preconcentration and determination of copper and cadmium ions with 1,6-bis(2-carboxy aldehyde phenoxy)butane functionalized Amberlite XAD-16 by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A new chelating resin, covalently linked 1,6-bis(2-carboxy aldehyde phenoxy)butane with the Amberlite XAD-16 was synthesized and used for preconcentration of Cu(II) and Cd(II) prior to their determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). It was characterized by elemental analyses and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). Cu(II) and Cd(II) ions were quantitatively preconcentrated on minicolumn loaded with synthesised resin at pH 4.00 and 6.00, respectively. They were eluated with 5 mL of 0.5 mol L(-1) HCl. Recoveries of Cu(II) and Cd(II) were found to be 100±2.15, 100±1.40 (N=5), the limits of detection of Cu(II) and Cd(II) in the determination by FAAS (3s, N=20) were found to be 0.33 and 1.19 μg L(-1), respectively. The effect of foreign ions on the recovery has been investigated. The proposed method has been applied for the determination of Cu(II) and Cd(II) ions to the real samples collected from Tigris river water in Diyarbakir and Elaziğ cities in Turkey. Standard addition method and analysis of the certified reference material (NCS-DC 73350) was employed to check the accuracy of the method.

Solid phase extraction and preconcentration of Cu(II), Pb(II), and Ni(II) in environmental samples on chemically modified Amberlite XAD-4 with a proper Schiff base

A new chelating resin, Amberlite XAD-4 loaded with N,N-bis(salicylidene)cyclohexanediamine (SCHD), was synthesized and characterized. The resin Amberlite XAD-4-SCHD was used for selective separation, preconcentration, and determination of Cu(II), Pb(II), and Ni(II) ions in water samples by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). Effects of pH, concentration, and volume of elution solution; flow rate of elution; and sample solution, sample volume, and interfering ions for the recovery of the analytes were investigated. These metal ions can be desorbed with 0.5-M HNO3 (recovery, 98%-101%). The sorption capacity was found between 1.38×10(-1) and 3.58×10(-1) mmol/g. In order to evaluate the accuracy of the proposed procedure, the certified reference materials, BCR-032 (Moroccan phosphate rock) and BCR-715 (industrial effluent wastewater), were analyzed. The detection limits of the method were found to be 0.11, 1.91, and 0.43 μg/L for Cu(II), Pb(II), and Ni(II), respectively. The method was applied to the extraction and the recovery of copper, lead, and nickel in wastewater and other water samples.

Synthesis and application of alizarin complexone functionalized polyurethane foam: preconcentration/separation of metal ions from tap water and human urine

A new chelating sorbent has been synthesized by the covalent condensation of alizarin complexone (ALC) to polyurethane foam (PUF) through -N=C- group. The material was characterized by IR, (1)H NMR and chemical proof. Iminodiacetic acid groups are found in the prepared sorbent and the reaction proceeded via condensation between the toluidine moieties in the PUF and non-hydrogen bonded carbonyl group in ALC. Also, the possibility of elimination reaction between the groups (NH(2), NH and OH) in the polymer and carboxylic groups in the reagent was excluded. The material has been used to separate/preconcentrate Cu(2+), Zn(2+) and Cd(2+) prior to their determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). Chemical and flow variables such as sample pH, sorbent capacity, sample flow rate and interference from co-existing ions were investigated. All metal ions are quantitatively desorbed by 0.1 mol L(-1) nitric acid solution. The procedure provides concentration factor 100 and limits of detection 0.013 microg mL(-1). The method was validated by the analysis of certified reference materials and real samples such as tap water and human urine.

Biosorption of lead by filamentous fungal biomass-loaded TiO2 nanoparticles

In this study filamentous fungal biomass-loaded TiO(2) nanoparticles were used for the biosorption of lead(II) ions by flow-injection system coupled to flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The effects of pH, sample volume, loading and elution flow rates, eluent type and volume on the recovery of lead were investigated. Lead ions were sorbed on a biosorbent minicolumn at pH 4.0 followed by an elution step using 288 microL of 1.0 mol/L hydrochloric acid solution. The limit of detection was 0.78 microg/L. The validation of the described procedure was performed by the analysis of certified reference material (NRC-CNRC NASS-5 seawater). Finally, the presented biosorption procedure was applied to the determination of lead in tap water and seawater samples.

Solid phase selective separation and green preconcentration of Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd in drinking water by using novel functionalized resin

A new solid — phase extraction sorbent was developed based on stepwise anchoring of two ligand molecules for the determination of copper, zinc, lead and cadmium in drinking water by flame AAS. Amberlite XAD-2 functionalized with 4′-(2-hydroxyphenylazo)-3′-methyl-1′-phenyl-2′-pyrazolin-5′-one (HPAPyr) was utilized for preconcentration/separation of these elements. The sorbent was prepared by two successive azo coupling reactions. First, 2-aminophenol was anchored to the amino groups in the resin resulted from nitration followed by reduction. Then, the resulted 2-aminophenol functionalized resin was further diazotized and coupled to the pyrazolone compound and the final product HPAPyr-XAD-2 was characterized by IR and elemental analysis. The optimum pH range for sorption, shaking time, exchange capacity, sample flow rate, preconcentration factor and interference from co-existing ions were investigated. All metal ions were quantitatively desorbed from the resin by 4.5 mol L−1 nitric acid solution. The sorbent provides limit of detection within the range 0.9–3.3 µg L−1 and concentration factor up to 250. The procedure was validated by analysis of certified material NIST-SRM 1577b. Application to drinking water showed satisfactory results with relative standard deviation RSD ≤ 8.5%.

Mercury(II) and methyl mercury speciation on Streptococcus pyogenes loaded Dowex Optipore SD-2

A solid phase extraction procedure based on speciation of mercury(II) and methyl mercury on Streptococcus pyogenes immobilized on Dowex Optipore SD-2 has been established. Selective and sequential elution with 0.1 mol L(-1) HCl for methyl mercury and 2 mol L(-1) HCl for mercury(II) were performed at pH 8. The determination of mercury levels was performed by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry (CVAAS). Optimal analytical conditions including pH, amounts of biosorbent, sample volumes, etc., were investigated. The influences of the some alkaline and earth alkaline ions and some transition metals on the recoveries were also investigated. The capacity of biosorbent for mercury(II) and methyl mercury was 4.8 and 3.4 mg g(-1). The detection limit (3 sigma) of the reagent blank for mercury(II) and methyl mercury was 2.1 and 1.5 ng L(-1). Preconcentration factor was calculated as 25. The relative standard deviations of the procedure were below 7%. The validation of the presented procedure is performed by the analysis of standard reference material (NRCC-DORM 2 Dogfish Muscle). The procedure was successfully applied to the speciation of mercury(II) and methyl mercury in natural water and environmental samples.

Synthesis, characterization, and application of m-phenylendiamine-modified Amberlite XAD-4 resin for preconcentration and determination of metal ions in water samples

A new chelating resin is prepared by coupling Amberlite XAD-4 (Serva, Heidelberg, New York) with m-phenylendiamine through an azo spacer, characterized (by elemental analysis, infrared, and thermogravimetric analysis) and studied for preconcentrating nickel(II), cobalt(II), zinc(II), copper(II), and chromium(III) using flame atomic absorption spectrometry for metal monitoring. The optimum pH values for sorption of the above-mentioned metal ions were 8.5, 8.5, 6.5, 6.5, and 5.5, respectively. The resin was subjected to evaluation through batch binding and column chromatography of the mentioned metal ions. Quantitative desorption occurred instantaneously with 0.5 M HNO3. Various flowrates of sorption and desorption of nickel(II) have been studied. The sorption capacity was found to be 3.89, 3.27, 2.96, and 3.44 mmol/g of resin for cobalt, copper, zinc, and nickel, respectively. The chelating resin can be reused for 10 cycles of sorption-desorption without any significant change in sorption capacity. A recovery of >98% was obtained for all the metal ions, with 0.5 M HNO3 as the eluting agent. The method was applied for determination of metal ions from an industrial wastewater sample.

Biosorption of aluminum on Pseudomonas aeruginosa loaded on Chromosorb 106 prior to its graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometric determination

A biosorption procedure for separation-enrichment of aluminum in environmental samples has been presented in this work. Pseudomonas aeruginosa loaded on Chromosorb 106 has been used as biosorbent for that purpose. P. aeruginosa is a gram-negative, aerobic rod. The influences of pH of the aqueous solution, eluent type, eluent volume, sample volume, etc. were examined on the quantitative recovery of aluminum in P. aeruginosa loaded on Chromosorb 106. The effects of concomitant ions on the recoveries of aluminum were also investigated. The detection limit based on 3 sigma for aluminum is 30 ng L(-1). Three certified reference materials (LGC 6010 Hard Drinking Water, NIST-SRM 1568a Rice Flour and NRCC-DORM-2 Dogfish Muscle) were analyzed for the validation of the presented procedure. The proposed procedure was applied to the determination of aluminum in environmental samples including natural water and food samples. The concentration of aluminum in real samples was found at ppb level.

The determination of some heavy metals in food samples by flame atomic absorption spectrometry after their separation-preconcentration on bis salicyl aldehyde, 1,3 propan diimine (BSPDI) loaded on activated carbon

A sensitive and simple method for the simultaneous preconcentration of Cr3+, Fe3+, Cu2+, Ni2+, Co2+ and Zn2+ in real samples has been reported. The method is based on the adsorption of analytes on bis salicyl aldehyde, 1,3 propan diimine (BSPDI) loaded on activated carbon. The adsorbed metals on modified activated carbon were eluted using 8 mL of 2 mol L(-1) nitric acid in acetone or 10 mL of 4 mol L(-1) HNO3. The influences of the analytical parameters including pH and sample volume were investigated. The effects of matrix ions on the retentions of the analytes were also examined. The recoveries of analytes were generally quantitative. The method has been successfully applied for these metals content evaluation in some food samples.

Determination of total chromium by flame atomic absorption spectrometry after coprecipitation by cerium (IV) hydroxide

A method for the preconcentration of the total chromium based on coprecipitation with cerium (IV) hydroxide is proposed for determination of chromium by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Different factors including carrier element amount, pH, sample volume and matrix ion effects for the precipitation were examined. The detection limit of the total chromium (k=3, N=15) was 0.18 microg l(-1). The presented method was applied for the determination of chromium in the wastewater samples from Kayseri and Nigde Organized Industrial Region-Turkey and in drinking water from our laboratory, Kayseri with satisfactory results (relative standard deviations below 8%, recoveries 95%). The analytical results obtained by the proposed method for certified copper sample was in good agreement with the certified value.

Biosorption of Cu(II) on extracellular polymers from Bacillus sp. F19

Biosorption can be an effective process for the removal of heavy metals from aqueous solutions. The adsorption of Cu(II) from aqueous solution on the extracellular polymers (EPS) from Bacillus sp. (named MBFF19) with respect to pH, incubation time, concentration of initial Cu(II), and biosorbent dose was studied. Biosorption of Cu(II) is highly pH dependent. The maximum uptake of Cu(II) (89.62 mg/g) was obtained at pH 4.8. Biosorption equilibrium was established in approximately 10 min. The correlation coefficient of more than 0.90 turned out that the adsorption process of Cu(II) on MBFF19 was in accordance with both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The pseudo- first and second order models were applied to examine the kinetics of the adsorption, whereas the latter was found to be in harmony with the kinetic data better. Because of the outstanding uptake capacity of Cu(II), MBFF19 produced by Bacillus sp. was proved to be an excellent biosorbent for removing Cu(II) from aqueous solutions.