Abstract
The aim of this research was to develop a biosorbent system with high metal loading capacity based on an inactive (heat-killed) fungal biomass, Penicillium simplicissimum, supported on zeolite for the removal of trace elements from gold mine leachates. The effects of pH, initial metal ions concentration, contact time and temperature on the adsorption of Cu, Co, Cr, Hg, Fe, Ni, Zn, and U were studied in batch mode. The re-usability of the biosorbent was also investigated. The growth of fungi (P. simplicissimum) on zeolite yielded 600mgg−1 of biomass (10-fold higher than the free P. simplicissimum) at pH4. The maximum uptake of metal ions was higher and constant (40–50mgg−1) in the inactive fungal biomass from pH2 to 7. The uptake of U and Hg increased significantly in the zeolite-P. simplicissimum system due to the presence of the N–H, S–H and COO− functional groups on the cell wall surface of the biomass. The thermodynamic constants ΔG, ΔH and ΔS showed that adsorption was feasible and spontaneous. Consistent adsorption/desorption potential of the biosorbent in repetitive cycles portrayed the re-usability potential of the adsorbent.Zeolite-P. simplicissimum biosorbent removed 97% of the metals from the real gold mine leachates. Penicillium sp. immobilisation enhanced the potential of metals removal and makes it an attractive bioremediation agent.
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