Use of Particle-Induced X-Ray Emission for Evaluation of Competitive Metal Binding on Algae

✍ Scribed by Weixing Zhang; J.David Robertson; Michelle Savage; Vahid Majidi

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1997
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 146 KB
• Volume: 56
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0026-265X
• DOI: 10.1006/mchj.1996.1342

✦ Synopsis

Elemental concentrations of a unicellular alga, Chlorella vulgaris, were evaluated by particleinduced X-ray emission (PIXE). The probed algal cells generated a significant amount of phosphorus and sulfur X-ray emission. Phosphorus-and sulfur-containing compounds can provide potential binding sites for metal ions. Competitive binding of six metal ions, Ag, Ba, Cd, Cu, Hg, and Pb, to the algae was studied. It was found that Ag, Ba, Cd, Cu, and Pb are attached to a similar binding site with a binding efficiency varying in the sequence Pb ú Cu ú Ag ú Cd ú Ba. The binding of Hg to algae involves a different binding site. Silver was found to increase the binding of mercuric chloride to the algae.