Immobilization of Trichosporon cutaneum R 57 Cells onto Methylcellulose/SiO2 Hybrids and Biosorption of Cadmium and Copper Ions

Methylcellulose/Silica (MC/SiO2) hybrids were synthesized via poly step sol-gel method. SiO2 was included into the hybrids from two silica precursors - methyltriethoxysilane (MTES) and ethyltrimethoxysilane (ETMS) with different quantity of organic part-5, 20 and 50 wt.%. The filamentous yeasts Trichosporon cutaneum strain R 57 was immobilized onto the synthesized MC/SiO2 hybrids. After immobilization the hybrid materials were used in the processes of sorption of cadmium and copper ions. The obtained results of protein content analysis indicated that the amount of protein increased with increasing of MC in the hybrids. It was established that the maximal efficiency of copper and cadmium removal were observed for hybrid materials containing MTES and 50 wt.% MC - 66% and 26% respectively. For ETMS and 50 wt.% MC a high value of copper removal was 56% and for cadmium - 45% removal, respectively. FTIR analysis of free and immobilized cells with metal ions was conducted. SEM images showed successful immobilization of the yeasts cells. Second order model was employed in order to investigate the kinetics of copper and cadmium biosorption.