Exopolymers which anchor sessile bacteria to metallic surfaces exhibit the capacity to bind copper ions with high affinity. Ionized carboxyl groups on the polymers appear to participate in cupric ion binding. Formation of complexes between the polymers and cupric ions results in the release of protons from the polymer molecule. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed that polymers composed of acidic polysaccharides promote ionization and deterioration of metallic copper surfaces. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies revealed that the ionic state of the surface-derived copper varied depending on the type of acidic polysaccharide that was in contact with the surface. The results suggest that exopolymers elaborated by adherent bacteria can enhance corrosion of the surfaces with which they are associated.

The recovery of copper from synthetic aqueous media circulating in a loop fluidized bed reactor operated batchwise was investigated by using the following biopolymer systems: (1) a viscous solution of sodium alginate (from kelp) dispensed directly into the reactor fluid containing dissolved copper (sulfate salt) at initial concentrations of 60-200 ppm, (2) partially coagulated calcium alginate spheres for absorbing dissolved copper at initial concentrations of 10-40 ppm, and (3) a mixture of green algae Microcystis and sodium alginate dispensed directly into the reactor fluid. The recovery of copper and cobalt, a strategic metal, from cobalt ore leachate was achieved by a two-step approach: direct dispensing of sodium alginate to absorb the bulk of metals followed by the addition of partially coagulated calcium alginate spheres to "polish" the leachate. Metal binding capacity and conditional stability constant of each biopolymer system as well as the effective diffusivity of cupric ion in the matrix of biopolymer gels are reported.

No abstract

SynopsisA numerical iterative procedure is presented to predict the polymer-subphase volume that is formed when anionic polysaccharides such as alginic acid (polyuronic acid from kelp) are suspended in an aqueous solution. (The aqueous region surrounding the polymer chain where a strong electrostatic attractive force for counterions exists is defined as the separate polymer subphase within the colloidal phase enclosed by the polymer coil.) Based on the phase-partition model of Marinsky et al? and Donnan equilibrium theory, this iterative procedure utilizes the base titration data of the acidic polysaccharide at different ionic strengths as well as the osmotic properties of the sodium form of the polysaccharide. No detailed structural information of alginic acid is required. The resulting calculations show that the polymer subphase, which accounts for a small fraction of the total solution volume, should be regarded as the reaction zone for acid dissociation and metal binding reactions. The volume of polymer subphase thus calculated may also serve as an excellent index for the morphology of the polymer molecule at different ionic strengths, degrees of ionization, polymer concentrations, and extent of polymer-metal binding.

This paper presents a bench-scale study on the transport in highly permeable porous rock of three bacterial species-Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas putida, and Clostridium acetobutylicum-potentially applicable in microbial-enhanced oil recovery processes. The transport of cells during the injection of bacterial suspension and nutrient medium was simulated by a deep bed filtration model. Deep bed filtration coefficients and the maximum capacity of cells in porous rock were measured. Low to intermediate (_106/ml) injection concentrations of cellular suspensions are recommended because plugging of inlet surface is less likely to occur. In addition to their resistance to adverse environments, spores of clostridia are strongly recommended for use in microbial-enhanced oil recovery processes since they are easiest among the species tested to push through porous rock. After injection, further transport of bacteria during incubation can occur by growth and mobility through the stagnant nutrient medium which fills the porous rock. We have developed an apparatus to study the migration of bacteria through a Berea sandstone core containing nutrient medium.