Surface sorption and nanoparticle production as a silver detoxification mechanism of the freshwater alga Parachlorella kessleri.

SEM, EDS, TEM, FTIR and UV-vis analysis were used to investigate the biosorption, bioaccumulation and bioreduction of silver by the freshwater green alga Parachlorella kessleri. The dead algal biomass showed high potential for silver removal; 75% of silver was removed within 2min. Surface sorption was the main mechanism; bioreduction contributed to the biosorption only to a small extent.

Influence of H2SO4 and ferric iron on Cd bioleaching from spent Ni-Cd batteries.

The paper is concerned with biohydrometallurgical methods of cadmium recovery from spent Ni-Cd batteries. Cd leaching efficiency from electrode material in different media (H(2)SO(4) and Fe(2)(SO(4))(3) solutions), at different Fe(III) concentrations and using the bacteria Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans were investigated. The main aim of this study was to understand which from the bioleaching products (sulphuric acid or ferric sulphate) play a main role in the bioleaching process of Cd recovery.

Pb and Cd accumulation and phyto-excretion by salt cedar (Tamarix smyrnensis Bunge).

The accumulation and excretion of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) by salt cedar (Tamarix smyrnensis Bunge) were investigated in this study. Tamarix smyrnensis plants were exposed to the mixtures of Pb and Cd and high salinity for 10 wk. Subsequently, Pb and Cd uptake was quantified in the shoots and roots of the plants by ICP-AES.

Physiology of Matricaria chamomilla exposed to nickel excess.

Influence of nickel (Ni) excess on selected physiological aspects of Matricaria chamomilla metabolism after 10 days of presence was studied. Biomass, water content, assimilation pigments and lignin contents were not affected by any of the doses tested. High Ni doses elevated root-soluble proteins.

Physiological responses of Matricaria chamomilla to cadmium and copper excess.

Physiological responses of Matricaria chamomilla plants exposed to cadmium (Cd) and copper (Cu) excess (3, 60, and 120 microM for 7 days) with special emphasis on phenolic metabolism were studied. Cu at 120 microM reduced chamomile growth, especially in the roots where it was more abundant than Cd. Notwithstanding the low leaf Cu amount (37.