Alginate gel beads showed a high affinity for heavy
metal ions of Cu(II) and Mn(II) especially in a low
concentration region. The matrix of alginate gel beads
could be covalently cross-linked with 1,6-diaminohexane
bridges, which were expected to improve the mechanical
strength and resistance to chemical and microbial degradation
of the beads, without the change in adsorption
property. That is, the covalently cross-linked alginate gel
beads are expected to be a good candidate for adsorbents
to remove heavy metal ions from very dilute waste
water streams.