REMOVAL FROM WATER OF CATIONIC HEAVY METALS LEACHED FROM URANIUM MINE TAILINGS USING NOVEL ALGAL SEQUESTERING AGENTS

NATURAL MICROBIAL LEACHING OF TOXIC HEAVY METALS FROM URANIUM AND OTHER MINE TAILINGS IS A PROCESS THAT IS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL WITHOUT GREAT EXPENSE. THE REMOVAL OF LEACHED CATIONIC HEAVY METALS FROM WATERS ORIGINATING AT THESE MINE TAILINGS COULD HELP PREVENT THE CONTAMINATION OF GROUNDWATER, LAKES, AND STREAMS BY THESE TOXIC ELEMENTS. THESE METALS ALL BIND COVALENTLY TO THE RECENTLY DISCOVERED,NATURALLY PRODUCED ALGAL "CHELATORS" WHICH ARE EQUIVALENT TO THE PHYTOCHELATINS OF HIGHER PLANTS. STUDY OF THESE NATURAL CHELATORS WILL ANSWER THE BASIC BUSINESS QUESTION OFECONOMIC VALUE AND THE BASIC CHEMICAL QUESTION OF EFFICACY IN REMOVING LEACHED TOXIC HEAVY METALS FROM WATER BEFORE THEY CAN CONTAMINATE GROUNDWATER, LAKES, AND STREAMS AND THUS ENTER THE FOOD CHAIN. THIS PROJECT WILL DETERMINE (1) THE ECONOMICS OF PRODUCTING PHYTOCHELATINS BY VARIOUS EUCARYOTIC ALGAE; (2) THE EFFICACY OF METAL BINDING BY PHYTOCHELATINS AND ITS MODEL MONOMERIC COMPOUND, GLUTATHIONE; (3) THE EQUILIBRIA OF BINDING FOR TARGET HEAVY METALS TO THE PHYTOCHELATINS; AND (4) THE EQUILIBRIUM CONSTANTS AND COMPETITION FOR BINDING OF MIXTURES OF TARGET HEAVY METALS.