REMOVAL AND RECOVERY OF BERYLLIUM IN WATERS BY CHLORELLA-VULGARIS

Using nitrous oxide-acetylene flame atomic absorption and direct curent argon plasma emission spectrometry to determine Beryllium, the removal of Beryllium from solutions and waste waters by an algae biomass, Chlorella vulgaris was investigated. Binding was dependent on pH with maximum binding of over 80 % occurring at a pH between 6 and 9. The binding was independent of the Beryllium concentration in the range 0.05-2.7 pg/mL investigated. The effect of three separate matrices were investigated with optimal binding of Beryllium at pH 6,5 of 80 % for Sodium Acetate, 65 % for Sodium Carbonate, and 50 % for deionized-distilled water. Using an industrial waste water from a Beryllium mining operation, containing Beryllium as ions and solid (Beryllium (II) oxide), four pretreatments resulted in optimal binding ranging from 0 to over 95 % (depending on the pretreatement [form of Berryllium]). pH reversal allowed nearly 100 % recovery of the bound Beryllium (Be2+ ions) back into solution from the Chlorella vulgaris. © 1990, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.