AbstractIn this paper, eight Penicillium species (P. brasilianum, P. citrinum, P. funiculosun, P. janczewskii, P. janthinellum, P. mineoluteum, P. pinophilum, and P. sclerotiorum), isolated from Brazilian soil, were evaluated for their ability to remove metallic ions as cadmium, cobalt, copper, lithium, lead, and nickel present in aqueous residues. Two bioremediation methodologies were used: growing cells or resting cells. Some of the tested species showed outstanding potential for metallic ions bioremediation. Lead removal was achieved in good yields by using both growing and resting cells methodologies. Using growing cells, in 24 h, removal of nickel by P. janthinellum reached 20.8%. This species was also extremely efficient (91.2%) at biosorption of lead. Using resting cells method, Penicillium species targeted in the present study reached rates of almost 60% removal in only 1 h, being therefore of interest when preferential removal of lead in aqueous solutions is desired. An extraordinary bioremediati...