Heavy Metals Removal by Biosorption and Flotation

The removal of a mixture of heavy (toxic) metal cations (copper, nickeland zinc) from liquid effluents was investigated in this study at pilotscale, using counter-current contact mode. The innovative processinvolved the abstraction of metal ions onto fungal biosorbents, followedby the application of flotation for the subsequent solid/liquid separationof biomass particles. The ability of microorganisms to remove metal ionsfrom aqueous solutions is a well-known phenomenon. Nevertheless,engineering considerations are very important in decisions, concerningthe commercial future of biosorption and practical solutions are neededfor certain problems, such as the efficient post-separation ofmetal-loaded biomass. The two processes (flotation and biosorption) caneffectively operate in combination, in what it was termed biosorptiveflotation process. The sorbents may be recycled, after appropriate elutionof metals, as well as the treated (clean) water.