Solubilization of Metals in Invertebrate Guts

Abstract

The gut of the deposit feeder’s organisms is the composition of complex mixtures of organic compounds, hydrolytic enzymes, and the surfactant which these organisms use it for dissolving and consumption of nutrients from the sediments. The digestive fluids vary in color and with age of the organisms. Studies have been done to know the composition and purpose of the surfactants. In this regard, three endogenous digestives, complex mixtures of surfactant compounds have been isolated from the gut of Arenicola marina (Smoot et al. in Mar Ecol Prog Ser 258:161–169, 2003). The complex mixture of fluid is able to dissolve contaminants bound in the sediments along with the nutrients and then travels to the whole body of the organisms and contribute in the bioaccumulation of the metals in the deposit feeder’s organisms. Several studies show that the complex mixture of the surfactant and dissolve process depends on the several parameters which are discussed in the chapter.