Biological metal precipitation

Janssen, G. M. C. M., and Temminghoff, E. J. M., 2004, In situ metal precipitation in a zinc-contaminated, aerobic sandy aquifer by means of biological sulfate reduction. Environ. Sci. Technol. 38 4002-4011. 

Metal precipitation and removal may also be used as a pretreatment step prior to a snbseqnent treatment for removal of other contaminants. Examples of their downstream process inclnde ultraviolet oxidation, air stripping, and biological treatment (D16512I, p. 5-6). 

Strikland, J. (1998). Development and apphcation of phosphorus removal from wastewater using biological and metal precipitation techniques. J. Chartered Inst. Water Environment Manage. 12, 1, 30-37. 

Beyond the biological process of sullate reduction with subsequent metal precipitation as sulfides, other mechanisms of metal removal can be present during the runs, particularly in the inoculated column (A) precipitation as metals carbonates using the bicarbonate and/or carbonates formed during the reduction of sulfate by the SRB cells or by fermentation from other microorganisms, precipitation as metal hydroxides, complexing with substances excreted by the cells, and accumulation on the surface of cells, through reactions between metal ions and cell wall components [10]. 

Many natural waters possess the property of partially masking the presence of metal ions by rendering them unavailable for measurement by conventional chemical and biological metal-sensing techniques. Although it is as yet not possible to distinguish which of the many possible mechanisms (e.g. precipitation, colloidal adsorption, complexation, etc.) gives rise to this... 

Textile dyes were, until the nineteenth century invention of aniline dyes, derived from biological sources plants or animals, eg, insects or, as in the case of the highly prized classical dyestuff Tyrian purple, a shellfish. Some of these natural dyes are so-caUed vat dyes, eg, indigo and Tyrian purple, in which a chemical modification after binding to the fiber results in the intended color. Some others are direct dyes, eg, walnut sheU and safflower, that can be apphed directly to the fiber. The majority, however, are mordant dyes a metal salt precipitated onto the fiber facUitates the binding of the dyestuff Aluminum, iron, and tin salts ate the most common historical mordants. The color of the dyed textile depends on the mordant used for example, cochineal is crimson when mordanted with aluminum, purple with iron, and scarlet with tin (see Dyes AND DYE INTERMEDIATES). 

Clarifiers typically are used in chemical precipitation and biological treatment processes to remove precipitated metal soHds and suspended biological soHds. To prevent the sludge blanket from becoming too thick or heavy, part of the sludge blanket is removed continuously or intermittently from the system and thickened prior to disposal. 

The destiny of most biological material produced in lakes is the permanent sediment. The question is how often its components can be re-used in new biomass formation before it becomes eventually buried in the deep sediments. Interestingly, much of the flux of phosphorus is held in iron(lll) hydroxide matrices and its re-use depends upon reduction of the metal to the iron(ll) form. The released phosphate is indeed biologically available to the organisms which make contact with it, so the significance attributed to solution events is understandable. It is not clear, however, just how well this phosphorus is used, for it generally remains isolated from the production sites in surface waters. Moreover, subsequent oxidation of the iron causes re-precipitation of the iron(lll) hydroxide floes, simultaneously scavenging much of the free phosphate. Curiously, deep lakes show almost no tendency to recycle phosphorus, whereas shallow... 

Sediment Analysis. Sediment is the most chemically and biologically active component of the aquatic environment. Benthic invertebrate and microbial life concentrate in the sediment, a natural sink for precipitated metal forms, and an excellent sorbent for many metal species. TTie extent to which potentially toxic trace element forms bind to sediment is determined by the sediment s binding intensity and capacity and various solution parameters, as well as the concentration and nature of the metal forms of interest. Under some conditions sediment analyses can readily indicate sources of discharged trace elements. 

Mercury provides an excellent example of the importance of metal speciation in understanding biogeochemical cycling and the impact of human activities on these cycles. Mercury exists in solid, aqueous, and gaseous phases, and is transported among reservoirs in all these forms. It undergoes precipitation-dissolution, volatilization, complexation, sorption, and biological reactions, all of which alter its mobility and its effect on exposed populations. The effect of all... 

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