An investigation of engineering parameters for the use of immobilized biomass particles in biosorption

Immobilized, inactive mycelia of Rhizopus arrhizus are preferential to native biomass for use in the biosorption of metal ions. Refinement of a proprietary immobilization technique previously developed at McMaster University enabled production of particles of immobilized Rhizopus arrhizus biomass having a 12-23% wt of polymer additive. The effects of production stage parameters on the intrinsic uptake capacity of the immobilized biomass were examined. Kinetic experiments showed the following trends: a decrease in the weight percent of the added polymer leads to an increase in the apparent uranium uptake capacity of the immobilized biomass particles for a given contact time. A decrease in the particle size improved the kinetics of metal uptake and led to an increase in the apparent uranium uptake capacity for the same contact time. An increase in the initial concentration of the uranium solution caused equilibrium conditions to be attained faster.