Genetic and chemical modification of cells for selective separation and analysis of heavy metals of biological or environmental significance

Bioaccumulation describes the ability for microbes or other biological cells to accumulate heavy-metal species from the ambient environment. It has attracted extensive attention in the field of heavy metal remediation and precious metal recovery. Bioaccumulation has also shown great potential for adsorption and preconcentration of ultra-trace levels of heavy metals for their analysis and speciation. Genetic engineering and chemical modification of biological cells open up new avenues for bioaccumulative preconcentration of heavy-metal species for selective analysis and speciation of such metals in combination with spectrometric techniques. We focus on recent progress in genetic and chemical approaches to bioremediation and their applications in selective preconcentration and speciation of heavy-metal species. We also outline the uptake mechanisms of bioaccumulation and key issues in the biosorption of heavy metals and their analysis and speciation. Finally, we discuss future perspectives in the bioaccumulation of heavy-metal species and their analysis and speciation.