Biosorption of Cd2+ Cu2+ and Ag+ ions by C-, N-, P-, S-, Mg- and K-limited cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was examined. Raman spectroscopy and analysis of elemental composition were used to identify differences between individual yeast cultures. K-, Mgand C-limited cells accumulated the greatest amounts of Cd2+ ions. The greatest amount of Cd2+ ions was bound by biomass grown in K-limited medium. P-limited cells bound the greatest amount of Ag+ ions, but in contrast they had the lowest sorption capacity for Cd2+ ions. The smallest amounts of Cu2+ and Ag+ ions was bound by biomass grown in S-limited medium. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.