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Kinetics and equilibrium properties of the biosorption of Cu2+ by algae

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the kinetics and equilibrium properties of freshwater algae with Cu2+. This was a model system to explore using algae as biosensors for water quality. Methods included making luminescence measurements (fluorescence) and copper ion-selective electrode (CuISE) measurements vs. time to obtain kinetic data. Results were analyzed using a pseudo-first-order model to calculate the rate constants of Cu2+ uptake by algae: k p(Cu–algae) = 0.0025 ± 0.0006 s−1 by CuISE and k p(Cu–algae) = 0.0034 ± 0.0011 s−1 by luminescence. The binding constant of Cu–algae, K Cu–algae, was 1.62 ± 0.07 × 107 M−1. Fluorescence results analyzed using the Stern–Volmer relationship indicate that algae have two types of binding sites of which only one appears to affect quenching. The fluorescence-based method was found to be able to detect the reaction of algae with Cu2+ quickly and at a detection limit of 0.1 mg L−1.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support for this project from EPA project no. CR-83293701-0. The work presented here is a part of the master's thesis of Q. Wang. The support from Senator George J. Mitchell Center is also acknowledged. The authors thank the reviewers who provided suggestions to improve this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, University of Maine, Aubert Hall, Orono, ME, 04469, USA

    Qiong Wang, Jamie Pinto & Howard Patterson

  2. Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Environmental and Watershed Research, University of Maine, Norman Smith Hall, Orono, ME, 04469, USA

    John Peckenham

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  1. Qiong Wang
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  2. John Peckenham
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  3. Jamie Pinto
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  4. Howard Patterson
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Correspondence to Howard Patterson.

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Responsible editor: Elena Maestri

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Wang, Q., Peckenham, J., Pinto, J. et al. Kinetics and equilibrium properties of the biosorption of Cu2+ by algae. Environ Sci Pollut Res 19, 3889–3894 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-012-0965-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-012-0965-2

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