Methods and uses of encapsulated exudates and dried euglena biomass for binding metal

Abstract

A method of binding a target metal in solution. The method of binding a target metal comprises contacting a solution containing i) a target metal with ii) an encapsulated exudate of a culture of algal flagellate, or a fraction thereof; or an encapsulated dried Euglena biomass or a fraction thereof, to form a complex between the target metal, and the encapsulated exudate or fraction thereof, or the encapsulated dried Euglena biomass or the fraction thereof; and optionally separating the complex from the solution. The disclosure also relates to a biosorbent element, as well as methods of using same in binding a metal in solution.

1 .- 48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . A method of binding a target metal, the method comprising:
 contacting a solution containing a target metal with a biosorbent element; and   optionally separating the complex from the solution.   
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the biosorbent element comprises a substrate carrying dried  Euglena  biomass, or a fraction thereof, wet  Euglena  biomass, or a fraction thereof, or exudates of  Euglena , or a fraction thereof, in sufficient quantity to adsorb metals from the solution passing therethrough. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the biosorbent element is a biosorbent diffusive gradient across a plurality of thin films. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the biosorbent element binds metals comprising one or more of silver, gold, aluminum, arsenic, barium, beryllium, bismuth, calcium, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, potassium, lithium, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, sodium, nickel, phosphorus, platinum, palladium, lead, antimony, selenium, tin, strontium, thallium, titanium, uranium, vanadium, tungsten, yttrium, zinc, scandium, lanthanum, rare earth elements, and divalent transition metals. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the biosorbent element is for use in remediation of wastewater. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the biosorbent element is contacted with the wastewater before the wastewater contacts activated carbon. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the wastewater is domestic wastewater, urban wastewater, industrial wastewater or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the industrial wastewater comprises effluent from a mining operation. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the dried  Euglena  biomass, or a fraction thereof, or the wet  Euglena  biomass, or a fraction thereof, or the exudates of a culture of  Euglena , or a fraction thereof, comprises glutathione, metallothioneins, phytochelatins, polyphosphates, polysaccharides, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the dried  Euglena  biomass, or a fraction thereof, or the wet  Euglena  biomass, or a fraction thereof, or the exudates of a culture of  Euglena , or a fraction thereof, is contained in a dialysis container or dialysis bag. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the dried  Euglena  biomass, or a fraction thereof, or the wet  Euglena  biomass, or a fraction thereof, or the exudates of a culture of  Euglena , or a fraction thereof, is embedded in a diffusive gradient in a plurality of thin films, optionally a diffusion gradient technology (DGT). 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the dried  Euglena  biomass, or a fraction thereof, or the wet  Euglena  biomass, or a fraction thereof, or the exudates of a culture of  Euglena , or a fraction thereof, is spherical and/or gelatinous. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the biosorbent element further comprises an immobilizing matrix to encapsulate the dried  Euglena  biomass, or a fraction thereof, or the wet  Euglena  biomass, or a fraction thereof, or the exudates of a culture of  Euglena , or a fraction thereof. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the immobilizing matrix comprises a resin or a polymer plastic. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the immobilizing matrix comprises agar, agarose, alginate, carrageenan, cellulose, chitosan, polystyrene, polyurethane, polyvinyl, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the immobilizing matrix comprises sodium alginate.