Biosorption of Lithium Using Biofilm Matrix of Natural Microbial Consortium
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5454/mi.9.3.2Keywords:
biosorption, biofilm, biofilm polymer, lithium ionAbstract
This study examined the biosorption of lithium using biofilm matrices of natural microbial consortiums collected from Lake Biwa, Japan. The characterization of the biofilm polymer as a suggested binding site of biofilm was also revealed in this study. The followings were observed as results of  this study: 1) biofilm has both negatively and positively charged sites; 2) lithium adsorption by biofilm matrix is a physicochemical process mainly promoted by the electrostatic interaction between the ion and the charged sites of biofilm polymers; 3) the adsorbing lithium ion promote the desorption of ions from biofilms through ion exchange mechanism; 4) biofilms components changed seasonally and seems to affect the ability of biofilm to adsorb ions. According the results of this study, natural biofilm may become a promising biosorbent in the biosorption of lithium ion.