Abstract
Manganese-oxidizing fungi support bioremediation through the conversion of manganese ions into manganese oxide deposits that in turn adsorb manganese and other heavy metal ions from the environment. Manganese-oxidizing fungi were immobilized onto nanofiber surfaces to assist remediation of heavy metal–contaminated water. Two fungal isolates, Coniothyrium sp. and Coprinellus sp., from a Superfund site (Lot 86, Farm Unit #1) water treatment system were incubated in the presence of nanofibers. Fungal hyphae had strong association with nanofiber surfaces. Upon fungal attachment to manganese chloride–seeded nanofibers, Coniothyrium sp. catalyzed the conformal deposition of manganese oxide along hyphae and nanofibers, but Coprinellus sp. catalyzed manganese oxide only along its hyphae. Fungi–nanofiber hybrids removed various heavy metals from the water. Heavy metal ions were adsorbed into manganese oxide crystalline structure, possibly by ion exchange with manganese within the manganese oxide. Hybrid materials of fungal hyphae and manganese oxides confined to nanofiber-adsorbed heavy metal ions from water.
Highlights
The release of heavy metal contaminants into groundwater poses a serious threat to human and environmental health.[1,2] Techniques used for heavy metal removal from water include chemical precipitation reactions, ion exchange, and adsorption.[3]
Indicative of Mn(III/IV)O,9,27 formed after 1 week of Coprinellus sp. and Coniothyrium sp. incubation in Mn(II)-containing media (Figure 2(a) and (b))
Nanofibers were maintained in culture media for more than 4 weeks to obtain fully grown fungi.[9]
Summary
The release of heavy metal contaminants into groundwater poses a serious threat to human and environmental health.[1,2] Techniques used for heavy metal removal from water include chemical precipitation reactions, ion exchange, and adsorption.[3] Chemical precipitation is most widely used industrially because the reactions are simple and its cost is relatively low. Heavy metal cations react with hydroxide or sulfide anions to form water-insoluble salts. Toxic by-products, such as low-density sludge and hydrogen sulfide (H2 S) fumes, can persist upon reaction.[3] Ion exchange is a highly efficient, high-capacity heavy metal removal technique. Heavy metal ions attach to polymeric beads or fibrous filter media as they replace protons belonging to sulfonic acid (–SO3 H) or carboxylic acid (–COOH) groups on the surface.[4] Adsorption has many advantages over other technologies due to its effectiveness, flexible design, and low cost.[2,3]
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