Adsorption Performance and Mechanism of Binding Cu(II) on Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Saccharomyces cerevisiae was used as a new type of biosorbent for the removal of copper. Various experimental parameters (e.g. equilibrium pH, contact time, Cu2+ concentration) were investigated. The biosorption of Cu2+ by Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a quick process which only need 4~6h to reach the equilibrium, and the optimum pH is 5. The results indicated that Langmuir isotherm sorption model fitted well the isotherm adsorption of copper. Sulfonate, carboxyl and amine groups were present in the biosorbent, which was confirmed by FTIR and proton-binding model. Chemical sorption was dominated in the binding of its molecules. Different functional groups were ionized in different pH conditions and played a pronounced role in the sorption.