Removal of As, Cd, Hg and Pb ions from solution by adsorption with bacterially-produced magnetic iron sulfide particles using high gradient magnetic separation

Iron sulfide (FeS) particles produced by sulfate-reducing bacteria are an excellent adsorbent for heavy metal ions. To select the bacteria which produce a magnetic FeS as an adsorbent for the high gradient magnetic separation, an open gradient magnetic separator operating at a 10 Tesla magnetic field was used. Magnetization study showed that the magnetic FeS particles consist of paramagnetic like and ferro-magnetic component.