Specials Articles on Chemistry and T echnology for Recycling Inorganic and Organic Materials- Note -The Recovery of Gallium from Sea Water by Dunaliellasp.-

Abstract

The accumulation of gallium from sea water containing 1 mg/^-1 of the element by Dunaliella sp. was strongly affected by the pH of sea water. The optimum pH for the accumulation was about 6.2. The accumulation of gallium proceeded rapidly, and reached a plateau within 1 h.79% of gallium accumulated in Dunaliella sp. was found in the cell wall.
The accumulation of gallium was increased by heat treatment of Dunaliella sp.. Iron and copper concentrations in Dunaliella sp. were largely affected by addition of gallium to sea water.