Sorption between microorganisms and clay minerals as determined by the electrical sensing zone particle analyzer

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Abstract
Sorption between microbial cells and clay minerals was determined by measuring changes in particle size distribution with an electronic particle counter. Sorption increased as the valency of the cations present on the clay and in the suspending electrolyte increased. Neither the size, motility, or Gram reaction of bacteria nor the size of the clay appeared to influence sorption. Sorption occurred between bacteria and montmorillonite homoionic to monovalent cations only at pH 2 to 4, but did not occur at any pH with yeast cells, which sorbed only in the presence of trivalent cations. Heat-killed cells of yeast lost their ability to sorb, whereas cells killed with benzalkonium chloride did not. The possible implications of these results in sorption of microorganisms in natural habitats are discussed.

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