In mixtures of copper and zinc, binding constants and binding capacities under competition have been determined, and hydrogen ion has been included as a cation. Since concentrations of metals in the solution were relatively high, metal alginate gel beads were formed in situ . The experimental data closely fit the extended Langmuir model, allowing binding group density and stability constants to be determined. A model which predicts final concentrations of di valent cations in solutions comprised of mixtures of the metal ions and protons in the presence of alginate biopolymer gel beads is being developed. The model predicts equilibrium concentrations of copper, zinc, and hydrogen ions in the presence of algina te gel beads.
Results show that alginate is much more selective for copper than for zinc.
A key finding has been that the maximum binding capacity for alginate is independent of metal type. Investigators are comparing bead regeneration efficacy using equi librium shifting plus electrodeposition to equilibrium shifting alone and to electrodeposition alone. Investigators are preparing to submit a patent application related to biopolymer regeneration. This project is in its third year.