Binding of Cu(II) to algae in a metal buffer

Abstract

The interactions of Cu(II) with algal surfaces and exudates were studied in metal-NTA buffers by a combination of several analytical techniques. Suspensions of living algae in the presence of NTA were titrated at constant pH with Cu(II). The various Cu species were determined as follows: a copper ion selective electrode was used reliably in the pCu range 9–12; differential pulse polarography was used to measure separately Cu(II)-NTA complexes and labile Cu(II) species and to evaluate the complexation of copper by ligands in solution; copper bound to the algal surfaces was extracted by acid treatment and measured by AAS. Thus, we determined both the binding of Cu to the algal surfaces and to exudates excreted by the algae. The results were interpreted in terms of conditional equilibrium constants valid at a given pH; the conditional constants, both for the binding to the surfaces and with the exudates increase in the pH range 5.0–6.5. Simple equilibrium models using the experimentally determined binding capacities and equilibrium constants were able to simulate the results and to evaluate the speciation of copper. Under the experimental conditions used, the binding of Cu(II) to algal exudates has a more significant effect on copper speciation than the binding to the algal surfaces. These extracellular ligands may play an important role in decreasing the concentration of free copper ion and thus mitigating the potential toxic effects in organisms.