Abstract

The potential use of the fungus Penicillium canescens for the removal of cadmium, lead, mercury and arsenic ions from aqueous solutions was evaluated in this study. Equilibrium biosorption of the heavy metal ions was attained in 4 h. The binding of heavy metal ions to P. canescens was clearly pH-dependent. Under acidic conditions, the heavy metal ion loading capacity increased with increasing pH, presumably as a result of heavy metal speciation and competition with hydrogen ions for the same binding sites. The adsorption of heavy metal ions attained a plateau value at ca. pH 5.0. The maximum adsorption capacities of the heavy metal ions studied onto the fungal biomass under non-competitive conditions were 26.4 mg/g for As(III), 54.8 mg/g for Hg(II), 102.7 mg/g for Cd(II) and 213.2 mg/g for Pb(II), respectively. The competitive adsorption capacities of the heavy metal ions were 2.0 mg/g for As(III), 5.8 mg/g for Hg(II), 11.7 mg/g for Cd(II) and 32.1 mg/g for Pb(II), respectively, at a 50-mg/l initial conce...

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.