Correspondence. Nature of the bonding between metallic ions and algal cell walls. Reply to comments

Mechanism of the uptake of metal cations by Algal Cell Walls

“…1 The investigation of the double labelled system 133 Ba-^4 and 42 K showed that two mM of potassium ions are needed for the transfer of one mM of barium ions into the aqueous phase, however, the total exchange reaction can be approximately described by the reaction 133 Ba-yl + 42 X = 42 K-^ + 133 Ba (5) because the individual exchange reaction takes part on different cell wall ligands with different capacity and different exchange constants By this way, the exchange reaction between other alkali metals and alkali earths (see Table 1) or twovalent transition metals 3 can be described. The exchange constant found for macroconcentration of alkali metals and alkali earths can be applied for the quantitative description of the cumulation of microconcentration of these elements.…”

“…Similar results were found and critically discussed in papers. 3 " 5 The study of the uptake of anionic species has proved 6 that halogenides are cumulated by algal cell walls in a substantially lower extent in comparison with cationic species; moreover, their cumulation does not depend on the type of cation used. The application of double labelled systems (e.g.…”