REMOVAL OF METAL IONS WITH IMMOBILIZED METAL ION-BINDING MICROORGANISMS

摘要

A composition for removing metal ions from aqueous solution is prepared by immobilizing metal ion-binding microorganisms such as algae, washing the immobilized microorganisms, drying the washed immobilized microorganisms and heating the dried immobilized microorganisms to a temperature of about 300 DEG to about 500 DEG C. for a time sufficient to provide a stable composition that is non-swelling in aqueous solution. The composition preferentially adsorbs precious metal ions from an aqueous solution containing concentrations of base metal ions and/or other dissolved materials several orders of magnitude greater than the concentration of the precious metal ions. The composition can also be used to extract precious metal ions from geothermal fluids.