Electric field-assisted biosorption

Abstract

A bisorption process using electric fields to facilitate contact between a sorbate and non-living biomass is described. The latter is enclosed within a semi-permeable membrane together with an electrode. The counter electrode is placed in the sorbate solution and an established potential across the electrodes facilitates electrokinetic movement of the sorbate to the biosorbant material.

Pt-based electro-catalytic materials derived from biosorption processes and their exploitation in fuel cell technology

“…Production of PVA cryogel-immobilised distillery-derived biomass and activated carbon anodes Biomass, derived from spent wash obtained from the Old Bushmill's Distillary, Co. Ltd. Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland was prepared essentially as described previously (Riordan et al 2004). Biomass or activated carbon, 100 mg, was suspended thoroughly in 4 ml 10% (w/v) PVA (Sigma) and 1.3 ml was then dispensed into casts so that gel blocks, 4 mm · 10 mm · 30 mm, were prepared.…”

Use of an electric field‐assisted biosorption process in the removal of hazardous or precious ionic species from wastewater streams

“…This suggests that employing an electric field to increase the concentration of sorbate in close proximity to a biosorbent preparation should lead to enhanced sequestration by the overall system. In addition, the electric field‐enhanced system also compared favourably with competing electrodialysis‐based technology since removal of the electric field in the former system did not result in release of the relevant entity from the membrane‐enclosed compartment 9. In conventional biosorptive processes, the use of a single form of biomass to facilitate removal of a wide range of substances is inconsistent with approaches currently employed.…”

“…Samples of biomass (0.25 g) were suspended into 10 mL volumes of distilled water and each aliquot was dispensed into Visking tubing (diameter 2.86 cm), pre‐treated as described previously9 and sealed at one end. A 30 cm length of platinum wire (0.2 mm diameter) was inserted into the biomass‐containing Visking tubing and this configuration was then placed in a solution of the relevant sorbate (150 mL).…”

“…Recently we described a process that involved the use of electric fields to facilitate the accumulation of a relevant sorbate in the vicinity of biosorbent materials 9. The system consisted of biomass entrapped within a semi‐permeable membrane through which the relevant sorbate could pass unhindered.…”

Electro-biosorptive accumulation for use in enhanced detection of fluorogenic tracers and the removal of toxic entities from dilute solutions

“…Electric field-mediated biosorption may be employed to actively remove toxic and/or precious metals from aqueous solutions (Riordan et al 2004). One of the advantages associated with the use of the system includes the observation that once the relevant sorbate has been sequestered by the system it is retained by the biosorbent in that system.…”