Biosorption and desorption of copper (II) ions by Bacillus sp.

Batch biosorption experiments were conducted to investigate the removal of Cu2+ ions from aqueous solutions by a series of bacterial strains isolated from a local activated sludge process. The characteristics of 12 isolates were identified and examined for their ability to bind Cu2+ ions from aqueous solution. Among the isolates, two species exhibited biosorption capacity >40 mg of Cu/g of dry cell.