Abstract
Bioremediation is an environmentally-benign and cost-effective approach to removing arsenic from contaminated areas. A fungal strain hyper-tolerant to arsenic was isolated from soil from a mine site and used for the removal of arsenic. The isolated fungus was identified as Talaromyces sp., and its growth rate, arsenic tolerance, and removal rates were investigated for As(III) and As(V). Arsenic tolerance tests revealed that the fungus was highly resistant to arsenic, tolerating concentrations up to 1000 mg/L. Robust mycelial growth was observed in potato dextrose broth containing either As(III) or As(V), and there was no difference in growth between that in arsenic-free medium and medium amended with up to 300 mg/L of either arsenic species. The isolate showed relatively low growth rates at As(V) concentrations >500 mg/L, and almost no growth at As(III) concentrations >300 mg/L. Both arsenic species were effectively removed from aqueous medium (>70%) in tests of the biosorption of arsenic onto mycelial biomass. Surface modification of the biomass with Fe(III) (hydr)oxides significantly enhanced arsenic removal efficiency. The findings indicate that this soil fungal strain has promise for use in bioremediation strategies to remove arsenic from highly contaminated aqueous systems.
Highlights
Arsenic (As) is a major pollutant in the environment, derived from the weathering of rocks and volcanic activity, and from anthropogenic inputs including industrial activities, mining operations, and agriculture [1,2]
A wide range of fungi from all major taxonomic groups have been observed in metal-polluted habitats [29], and various fungi have been isolated from soil polluted with heavy metals in various parts of the world, including Aspergillus, Rhizopus, Penicillium, Fusarium, Chaetomium, Geomyces, and Paecilomyces spp. [12,14,29,30]
KM-31 isolated from highly As-contaminated soil from a mine site showed
Summary
Arsenic (As) is a major pollutant in the environment, derived from the weathering of rocks and volcanic activity, and from anthropogenic inputs including industrial activities, mining operations, and agriculture [1,2]. Arsenic is present in a variety of inorganic forms such as. Microbes can convert arsenic from one form to another via oxidation/reduction and methylation/demethylation processes [3]. As-contaminated soil is of concern, as human exposure to arsenic can occur through both the food chain and the water supply [2,5]. Various technologies to remediate arsenic-polluted soil and water have been developed, including stabilization and solidification, but the application of these methods has been limited for economic reasons and because of disposal problems [6,7]
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