Kinetics and equilibrium properties of the biosorption of Cu2+ by algae.

The purpose of this study was to examine the kinetics and equilibrium properties of freshwater algae with Cu(2+). This was a model system to explore using algae as biosensors for water quality. Methods included making luminescence measurements (fluorescence) and copper ion-selective electrode (CuISE) measurements vs. time to obtain kinetic data. Results were analyzed using a pseudo-first-order model to calculate the rate constants of Cu(2+) uptake by algae: k (p(Cu-algae)) = 0.0025 ± 0.0006 s(-1) by CuISE and k (p(Cu-algae)) = 0.0034 ± 0.0011 s(-1) by luminescence. The binding constant of Cu-algae, K (Cu-algae), was 1.62 ± 0.07 × 10(7) M(-1). Fluorescence results analyzed using the Stern-Volmer relationship indicate that algae have two types of binding sites of which only one appears to affect quenching. The fluorescence-based method was found to be able to detect the reaction of algae with Cu(2+) quickly and at a detection limit of 0.1 mg L(-1).