Mobilization of metals from contaminated sediments or wastewaters provides a route for exposure of wildlife and humans to toxic metals. The transport and fate of metals in the wastestream may be influenced bytheir interactions with biological materials. The removal of metals and other inorganic contaminants from solution by biomass, such as microorganisms, activated sludges, and biopolymers may occur by biosorption, which is generally associated with extracellular interactions and is distinguished from metabolically driven active intracellular uptake. The rapid removal and high sorption capacity for metals as well as the cost-effectiveness of biosorption makes it a promising alternative for remediation or treatment of metals in the aquatic environment. Depending on the type of biomass, the sorption capacity may vary significantly for different metals, and thus it is important to evaluate the sorption characteristics of biomass for optimal removal of metals from the wastewaters.
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