Microbially-enhanced chemisorption of Ni2+ ions into biologically-synthesised hydrogen uranyl phosphate (HUP) and selective recovery of concentrated Ni2+ using citrate or chloride ion

Abstract

Hydrogen uranyl phosphate (HUP) deposited enzymatically on Citrobacter N14 immobilized in polyacrylamide gel removed nickel ions from solution via intercalative ion-exchange into the HUP lattice. Using flow-through columns containing 100 mg dry weight of biomass and ∼200–250 mg loaded uranium column saturation and breakthrough of Ni²⁺ occurred after ca. 600 ml, with a total of ∼30 mg Ni²⁺ loaded per column, corresponding to a molar ratio of U:Ni of ∼ 2:1, in accordance with the identity of the material as Ni(UO₂PO₄)₂, identified previously. Ni²⁺ was selectively desorbed using 100 mM sodium citrate-citric acid buffer over 140 ml or a short pulse (5 ml) of 500 mM citrate buffer followed by a water wash, giving a total recovery volume of 80 ml, with a total citrate concentration of ∼30 mM in the wash solution of the latter. As an alternative eluant which gives no residual BOD NaCl (0.6 M) or seawater gave comparable recovery of Ni²⁺ to the 0.5 M citrate pulse, but with a Ni²⁺ recovery volume of 40–50 ml. The concentration ratio of Ni²⁺-deposition:desorption (vol:vol) was 3–4 fold better with chloride ion than with 100 mM citrate.