Metal Tolerance Potential of A. fumigatus and Comparative Analysis of Biosorption through Control and Trained Biomass

Abstract

Heavy metal pollution in water because of the discharge of industrial effluent imposes serious environmental concerns. Copper is one of such pollutants which is are considered as toxic, non-biodegradable and persistent in nature. Removal of heavy metals through conventional treatment strategies can cause many technical problems. Filamentous fungi have the ability to accumulate significant amount of heavy metals from their environment. Therefore, the potential of resistant fungal biomass as biosorptive agents for the removal of heavy metals from contaminated sediments is currently receiving attention. In the present study, A. fumigatus isolated from contaminated site was trained to 50-–2500 2500 ppm copper concentrations. Ability of copper biosorption by control and trained biomass of A. fumigatus was compared and trained biomass was found as better biosorbent. Maximum biosorption percentage of copper (72.4%) was recorded at 50 50 ppm concentration through 2500 2500 ppm Cu trained A. fumigatus biomass. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models were applied on equilibrium data and results showed that the Freundlich isotherm model fitted well to the adsorption data in both control and metal-trained biomass. FTIR characterization of fungal biomass showed the improvement in the number of metal binding sites on the biomass surface after training.

Keywords: Heavy metals, copper, biosorption, A. fumigatus, Langmuir and Freudlich isotherms

Cite this Article

Harish Pal Bhati, Charaya MU. Metal Tolerance Potential of A. fumigatus and Comparative Analysis of Biosorption through Control and Trained Biomass. Research & Reviews: A Journal of Life Sciences. 2019; 9(2): 71–82p.