The metal removal capability of the exopolysaccharide (EPS)-producing cyanobacterium Cyanospira capsulata was tested in laboratory solutions with two multimetal systems, composed by Cu, Ca and Mg or by Cu, Zn and Ni. In both cases, the cyanobacterial biomass removed significant amounts of the metals, maintaining a good efficiency in comparison with the single metal systems. The biomass was then tested with an industrial waste water containing six metals: Ba, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni and Al. After one hour, about 60% of the initial amount of each metal was removed; a second and a third cycle, carried out with fresh biomass, removed about 85% and 97% of the initial metal amount. With another industrial waste water, mainly containing Fe, Al, Cu, Zn, Mn and Pb, the cyanobacterial biomass removed, after one cycle, about 85% of the initial amount of metals, showing a promising behaviour for industrial applications.
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