The biosorption of metals has already attracted a great deal of attention because of its application potential in environment protection and removal or recovery of precious and heavy metals. The research activities about biosorption of precious and heavy metal ions by the biosorbent, the biomass of microorganisms, plants and animals for deriving, was described in this paper. The mechanisms of biosorption were also reviewed. Ref 33国家自然科学基金资助项目 (No .2 98760 2 6)~
