Biosorption of triorganotin compounds by the cyanobacteria Synechocystis PCC 6803 and Plectonema boryanum and the microalga Chlorella emersonii, incubated in 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulphonic acid (MES) buffer, pH 5.5, in the presence of 0.5 mM organotin (supplied as chlorides), increased with molecular mass of the organotins, the order being triphenyltin > tributyltin (Bu3SnC1) > tripropyltin >/trimethyltin~>triethyltin. In the butyltin series, monobutyltin biosorption was lowest, although levels of dibutyltin uptake were greater than for Bu3SnC1. Cyanobacterial Bu3SnC1 biosorption was complete in 5 min with no subsequent accumulation. In contrast, a second phase of uptake in C. emersonii resulted in an approximate 2.4-fold increase in cellular Bu3SnC1 between 5 min and 2 h. The external pH had a marked influence on biosorption of Bu3SnC1 by Synechocystis PCC 6803 and P. boryanum, with maximal uptake at pH 5.5 and 6.5, respectively. Effects of pH were less evident in C. emersonii. In all the organisms examined, no inhibition of Bu3SnC1 biosorption was observed between 0.05 and 50 mM NaC1. However, an increase in the external NaC1 concentration from 50 to 500 mM resulted in, an approximate 55-65% reduction in Bu3SnC1 uptake. Biosorption increased at increasing Bu3SnC1 concentrations (0.25-3.0 mM). Saturation of Bu3SnC1 biosorption at the higher concentrations was most evident in the cyanobacteria, although uptake levels were greater in these organisms at ~<2 mM Bu3SnC1. Theoretical maximum biosorption levels at complete cell saturation, derived from reciprocal Langmuir plots, were approximately 565, 525 and 1050 nmol Bu3SnC1 mg -1 dry weight, for Synechocystis PCC 6803, P. boryanum and C. emersonii, respectively.