(JP8511195-W)      Removal of a metal having an insol. phosphate (the ''target metal'') from an aq. soln. comprises (a) immobilising in a bioreactor, a phosphatase-producing microorganism which has been cultivated using a growth medium contg. an assimilable organic source of phosphorus; (b) contacting the microorganism with an element, other than the target metal, having an insol. phosphate (the ''priming element'') so as to deposit the phosphate of the priming element on cell surfaces of the microorganism; and (c) passing the aq. soln. contg. the target metal to be removed through the bioreactor to ppte. the target metal out of the soln.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method can be used for water purificn., recovery of metals from water, accumulation of heavy metals from water and cleaning-up of chelated metal wastes. The method can be used for the removal of metals such as uranium, neptunium, americium, cadmium, lead, copper, nickel, zinc, manganese, cobalt, lanthanum, yttrium, europium or silver (claimed). The priming element phosphate facilitates deposition of the target metal phosphate to provide efficient metal removal.    (EP690823-B1)      Removal of a metal having an insol. phosphate (the ''target metal'') from an aq. soln. comprises (a) immobilising in a bioreactor, a phosphatase-producing microorganism which has been cultivated using a growth medium contg. an assimilable organic source of phosphorus; (b) contacting the microorganism with an element, other than the target metal, having an insol. phosphate (the ''priming element'') so as to deposit the phosphate of the priming element on cell surfaces of the microorganism; and (c) passing the aq. soln. contg. the target metal to be removed through the bioreactor to ppte. the target metal out of the soln.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method can be used for water purificn., recovery of metals from water, accumulation of heavy metals from water and cleaning-up of chelated metal wastes. The method can be used for the removal of metals such as uranium, neptunium, americium, cadmium, lead, copper, nickel, zinc, manganese, cobalt, lanthanum, yttrium, europium or silver (claimed). The priming element phosphate facilitates deposition of the target metal phosphate to provide efficient metal removal.