A simple allometric diffusion-based biokinetic model to predict Cu(II) uptake across gills of freshwater clam Corbicula fluminea.

The purpose of this study was to link Fick's type mass transfer and biokinetics together with Michaelis-Menten kinetics to arrive at a simple predictive framework for quantifying biouptake mechanisms in gills of freshwater clam Corbicula fluminea exposed to Cu(II). A diffusion-based Cu(II) influx and permeability can be calculated using physiological and allometric-related parameters. Simulations indicate that Cu(II) bioconcentration factor of gills was 42. Estimated steady-state Cu(II) gill uptake influx and permeability were 0.097 nmol cm(-2) s(-1) and 0.48 cm s(-1), respectively. The proposed simple allometric diffusion-based biokinetic model meets the need for describing nonequilibrium aspects of biouptake mechanisms in bivalve gills.