BIOREMEDIATION OF XENOBIOTICS: USE OF DEAD FUNGAL BIOMASS AS BIOSORBENT

Abstract

Biosorption is bioengineering where metabolism independent adsorption of xenobiotics to living or dead cells takes place.Microorganisms dead or alive are successfully exploited for bioremediation of xenobiotics by biosorption. In the present study bioremediation of xenobiotics of textile industry effluent was carried out by biosorption using dead fungus biomass of Aspergillus flavus. The dead biomass of fungus Aspergillus flavus shows maximum biosorption for three toxic components of textile industry effluent under different parameters. Methyl orange biosorption was found to be 53.62% at room temperature, at pH 5.5, with biomass concentration of 2g/L having contact time of 40 min and the dye concentration was 1ppm. Chromium biosorption was 72.18%, at pH 6, at room temperature with biomass concentration of 2g/L having contact time of 10 min and solution concentration 200ppm. Lead biosorption was found to be 76.12%, at pH 7, at room temperature with biomass concentration 2g/L having contact time of 40 min and solution concentration 1ppm. Desorption studies were also performed and was found that dead fungal biomass can be reused further.