Removal of Copper from Aqueous Solutions by Waste Biomass of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Put dead immobilized saccharomyces cerevisiae biomass into column of continuous upflowing reactor. Study the influence of temperature, quantity of saccharomyces cerevisiae in column and initial Cu²⁺ concentration on Cu²⁺ adsorption. Determine optimal operating parameters of initial pH values, flow rates and quantities of saccharomyces cerevisiae in column through orthogonal experiment. Analyse adsorption mechanisms on Cu²⁺ by saccharomyces cerevisiae powder through SEM. The results show optimal conditions are normal temperature, quantity of saccharomyces cerevisiae in column 80 g/L and initial Cu²⁺ concentration 20 mg/L. The orthogonal experiment indicates that the optimal test condition was initial pH value 6, flow rate 5 mL/min, quantity of saccharomyces cerevisiae in column 80 g/L. SEM figures indicate that inorganic precipitation mechanism and redox mechanism might work in the process, and that the cell wall plays an important role in Cu²⁺ adsorption.