Efficient Copper Adsorption from Aqueous Solution by Dictyuchus sterile Pellets

Abstract

A common heavy metal pollutant of water resources, copper (II), can cause serious health problems or even death. Over the past few years, several filamentous fungi strains have been isolated, identified, and tested for their ability to bio-adsorb heavy metals for potential use in the bio-remediation of copper from wastewater. In this study, variables, including the dosage of fungal pellets, temperature, pH, time, initial copper concentration, and agitation rate, were assessed to select the best conditions for the adsorption of copper by Dictyuchus sterile pellets. To identify the active groups responsible for metal adsorption, microscopic observations were made using a light microscope and scanning electron microscope. The copper adsorbent was then analyzed before and after adsorption using an atomic adsorption spectrophotometer and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The ideal adsorption conditions were: fungal pellets with a wet weight of 1 g.L-1 at a temperature of 25°C, pH 5.5, the initial copper concentration of 100 ppm, and shaking at a speed of about 250 rpm for 72 h to achieve a removal efficiency rate of 95%. Copper adsorbed with the biomass of the fungal pellets was 57 mg.g-1. The use of fungal pellets would be a method that can be used to increase the surface area of adsorption and also is thought to be one of the most cost-effective ways to remove trace metals from polluted water.