Sequestration Of Uranium (Vi) From Aqueous Solutions Using Brewery Yeast (Saccharomyces Cerevisiae)

The biosorption mechanisms of Uranium to active chemical groups on the cell wall matrix of the nonliving fungi, Saccharomyces cerevisiae were examined by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Based on FTIR study, the biomass was subjected to chemical modification of its amino and carbonyl groups, to examine their roles in the U (VI) removal from the aqueous phase. After investigating biosorption potential of acid and base treated biomass, base treatment was found to enhance the metal removal ability of untreated biomass. Meanwhile, Biosorption conditions were optimized in batch system. The percentage removal was observed at optimum pH of 5, biosorbent dose of 10g/L, initial metal concentration of 100mg/L, contact time of 75 minutes and particle size of 100µm. Sorption isotherms were interpreted in terms of Langmuir, Freundlich and BET models. Equilibrium data fitted well to Langmuir model and Uptake kinetic followed pseudo-second order model. In conclusion, the maximum biosorption potential of non living S. cerevisiae can be harnessed by using base treated biomass under optimized set of functional conditions.