Complexation of cadmium by a rhamnolipid biosurfactant

H. Tan, J. T. Champion, J. F. Artiola, M. L. Brusseau, R. M. Miller

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

112 Scopus citations

Abstract

The potential of microbially-produced surfactants (biosurfactants) to complex heavy metals was investigated in this study. Batch solution studies using a model metal, cadmium, and an anionic monorhamnolipid biosurfactant produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027 showed that complexation of the metal and biosurfactant was rapid and stable and achieved high reductions in the free Cd2+ concentration. For example 92% of Cd2+ (0.72 mM) was complexed by 7.3 mM rhamnolipid, and 97% of Cd2+ (0.36 mM) was complexed by 3.9 mM rhamnolipid. Under the experimental conditions used, the maximum complexation capacity of the rhamnolipid was 0.2 Cd2+/rhamnolipid on a molar basis. The calculated cadmium-rhamnolipid stability constant (log K = -2.47) was higher than those reported for cadmium-sediment and cadmium-humic acid systems. The calculated cadmium-rhamnolipid equilibrium partition coefficient (log Kp = 4.89) was similar to values reported for sorption of organic contaminants by dissolved organic matter. Quantitative separation and recovery of the rhamnolipid from the rhamnolipid-Cd2+ complexes were achieved by acid precipitation of the rhamnolipid followed by centrifugation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2402-2406
Number of pages5
JournalEnvironmental Science and Technology
Volume28
Issue number13
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1994

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Chemistry(all)
  • Environmental Chemistry

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