Abstract
Removal of metals related to radionuclides (Sr, U) and heavy metals (Co, Cu, Hg, Cr and As) present in aqueous solutions using photosynthetic bacteria immobilized porous ceramic, which can be recovered with an electromagnet, were carried out under aerobic dark condition. Among the photosynthetic bacteria tested, Rhodobacter sphaeroides SSI showed the highest removal activity for such metals with immobilized ceramic. The percentage of removal of 20 mg/l of Sr, Co and U were as high as 82%, 58 and 95, respectively after 6 days of treatment. The COD and phosphate present in the aqueous solution were simultaneously removed at high efficiency of over 90%. With a pure culture system, strain SSI can adsorb 98% of U on and/or in the cells from culture liquid during 6 days of aerobic growth. These pieces of immobilized porous ceramic could also remove Cu, Hg, Cr and As in the same system.
