Author/Authors :
UZAIR, BUSHRA University of Karachi - Centre for Molecular Genetics, Pakistan , AHMED, NUZHAT University of Karachi - Centre for Molecular Genetics, Pakistan , VALI MOHAMMAD, FARYAL University of Karachi - H E J Research Institute of Chemistry - International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences, Pakistan , AHMAD, VIQAR UDDIN University of Karachi - International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences - H E J Research Institute of Chemistry, Pakistan
Abstract :
The aim of the present study was to develop a model system for the removal of heavy metals from aqueous solution using sodium phytate as a potential phosphate donor (Lanthanum nitrate was used as test metal). Biofilm of mixture of Escherichia coli and Enterobacter cloacae was formed on polyutherane foam cubes and packed in a glass column and challenged with lanthanum nitrate (1mM). The metal cation removed is accumulated in situ as insoluble metal phosphate on the surface of E. coli and E. cloacae. Removal of La 3+ from aqueous solution by mixture of E. coli and E. cloacae was dependent on phosphate mediated phosphate release and the residence time in plug flow reactor (PFR) containing polyurethane immobilized cells in a stirred tank reactor (STR) and white precipitate of lanthanum phosphate was accumulated on immobilized cells of E. coli and E. cloacae. Analysis of accumulated white precipitate by scanning electron microscopy suggested formation of crystals of lanthanum phosphate
