Speciation dynamics and bioavailability of metals. Exploration of
the case of two uptake routes*
Herman P. van Leeuwen** and José Paulo Pinheiro***
Laboratory of Physical Chemistry and Colloid Science,
Wageningen University, Dreijenplein 6, 6703 HB Wageningen, Netherlands
Abstract: The steady-state biouptake of metals from complex
media is outlined for the case of two different uptake routes. The analysis
comprises the limiting situations of inert and labile complexes, and
distinguishes between bioinactive and bioactive (lipophilic) complexes.
Depending on the dynamic features, fluxes of the different species may
be either coupled or uncoupled. The role of the lipophilic ligands may
be important in the overall uptake process. Some specific cases are
discussed.
* Lectures presented at the 11th European
Conference on Analytical Chemistry (EUROANALYSIS XI), Lisbon, Portugal,
3 9 September 2000. Other presentations are published in this
issue, pp. 1-54.
** Corresponding author: E-mail: [email protected];
Tel.: +31-317-482269; Fax: +31-317-483777
*** On leave from Centro Multidisciplinar de Quimica do Ambiente, UCEH,
A.D.Quimica, Algarve University, Campus de Gambelas, 8000-810 Faro,
Portugal