Biosorption Of Metals Research Articles

The Ecotoxicology of Heavy Metals from Various Anthropogenic Sources and Pathways for their Bioremediation

Although Cu and Zn are important microelements with well-defined roles in organisms functioning, their presence in toxic concentrations is related to a contamination process. On the other hand, Pb, Cd, and Hg are toxic xenobiotics with cumulative effects on various organisms, and in the case of Ni the reports are contradictory. All of these heavy metals are found as a naturally content in the earth�s crust wherefrom are mobilized through volcanic eruptions or mining activities. Some human activities, such as metals smelting, burning of fossil fuels, cement obtaining, usage of pesticides in agriculture, contribute to the environmental pollution with these heavy metals. The presence of heavy metals is considered a risk factor for all components of the ecosystem due to their geo- and bio accumulative features. In long-term exposure, especially in countries with intensive industrialization and urbanization, toxic and carcinogenic effects based on various mechanisms were reported. However, the extraction and the usage of heavy metals in various industry branches might be considered a necessary evil for the nowadays modern society. In some moments of our evolution there were no alternatives, neither as knowledge, nor as application possibilities. In last decades, alarm signals were pulled by the scientific community and non-governmental organizations, and a legislation of heavy metal residues monitoring was developed and applied in many countries all over the world. Moreover, various ecological alternatives were found for the limitation or even excluding of pollutant materials from many of our life aspects (unleaded petrol, insecticides based on pheromones, green concrete manufactured with less cement quantity etc.) and different ways of soil phytoremediation and heavy metals biosorption from aqueous media were tested. The aim of this paper is to review the most important aspects related to heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Hg, Ni, Cu, Zn) ecotoxicology. Various sources of environmental pollution and different mechanisms for physiological homeostasis disruption for each reviewed elementary xenobiotic are critically discussed.

Correction to: Biosorption of heavy metal polluted soil using bacteria and fungi isolated from soil

The fifth author’s middle name was incorrect in the initial online publication. The original article has been corrected.

Removal of multiple metals using Tamarindus indica as biosorbent through optimization of process variables: a statistical approach

In the present study, biosorption capacity of Tamarindus indica is investigated for removal of lead and zinc. The heavy metals, namely lead and zinc, are successfully removed from aqueous solution by batch biosorption using Tamarindus indica as biosorbent. The removal percentage of selected metals, namely lead and zinc, was improved through optimization of variables using response surface methodology (RSM). The conditions obtained with RSM are agitation time of 47.65 min, initial metal ion concentration of 46.49 mg/l, biosorbent dosage of 1.23 g and pH of 7.64 for lead biosorption, whereas those for zinc are agitation time of 22.84 min, dosage of 0.78 g, initial ion concentration of 20.87 mg/l and pH of 6.98. The maximum of 83.52% removal of lead was achieved and for zinc 63.7%. Heavy metal biosorption ability of biosorbent has been qualitatively characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy analysis. This study reveals that the Tamarindus indica efficiently removes heavy metals. The biosorption kinetic study at RSM optimized conditions exhibited better fit to Freundlich isotherms (R2 0.993) for lead than Langmuir isotherm (R2 0.974).

Chemical characterization of biomass flour of the babassu coconut mesocarp (Orbignya speciosa) during biosorption process of copper ions

Abstract Population and industrial growth over the decades, have resulted in increased generation of effluents contaminated with potentially toxic metals that if released directly in the ecosystem contaminate the soil, subsoil and groundwater. The search for new technologies for environmental decontamination, of low cost and environmentally correct are encouraged. Biosorption emerges as a promising, inexpensive and ecologically viable biotechnological process. In the literature several biomasses are evaluated as biosorbents of metals, however the absence of studies that characterize the biosorptive process, impede their understanding. This work has as objective to characterize the biomass flour of babassu coconut mesocarp and assess its biosorption potential of copper ions through the techniques of potential zero charge (PZC) according to the methodology of Regalbuto, functional groups by the Boehm method, FTIR, XRD, DLS and SEM. The results showed that the (PZC) of the biomass was in the range of 4.0 indicating that above this range there will be biosorption of cations. The biomass surface is partially acid, according to the Boehm methodology, but possibly free hydroxyl groups and CH3, CH2 are involved in the biosorptive process according to the FTIR spectrograms. The characterization by XRD revealed interaction between biomass and the metal copper, since there was disappearance of phases, displacement and change in the intensity of the peaks. The particle size distribution by DLS also demonstrated that there was an interaction, indicating that the biosorptive process decreased the particle size distribution and made the distribution monomodal. The micrographs obtained by SEM revealed that there was no apparent surface modification in the biomass into contact with metal. In relation to the biosorptive potential, the biomass showed 84% removal, being considered, therefore a good biosorbent and had a better adjustment to the model of non-linear Freundlich isotherm.

Bioreduction of Iron and Biosorption of Heavy Metals (Ni2+, Co2+, Pb2+) by a Novel Environmental Bacterium, Tabrizicola aquatica RCRI19T

Abstract: Environmental bacteria have an important role in the removal and improvement of metals from polluted area. Metal–microbe interactions as a form of detoxification of metal have been developed. In this study, we investigated the ability of Tabrizicola aquatica RCRI19T, a novel environmental bacterium isolated from deepwater from Qurugol Lake nearby Tabriz city, Iran, to Fe(III)-reduction as an electron acceptor in minimal essential elements condition. Subsequently, bioabsorption behaviour of heavy metals (Ni2+, Co2+, pb2+) by strain RCRI19T has been demonstrated. Our results showed that strain RCRI19T can reduce 20mM ferric-citrate particularly in anaerobic condition, and a positive correlation was observed between bacterial growth and iron (II) production. Owing to its iron reduction rate, T. aquatica RCRI19T may contribute to iron mineral transformation and element cycling in deepwater of the lake. We further observed that the dead biomass of strain RCRI19T absorbs of heavy metals (Ni2+, Co2+ and Pb2+) from aqueous solution. The optimum conditions of biosorption are in pH = 4 for Ni2+, Pb2+ and pH = 5 for Co2+. The equilibrium experimental data fitted both of Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms and displayed monolayer adsorption. Two kinetic models, namely pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order were used to describe the kinetics of heavy metal ion biosorption on T. aquatica. Pseudo second order was the best of the other kinetic.

Assessment of Pb2+ removal capacity of lichen (Evernia prunastri): application of adsorption kinetic, isotherm models, and thermodynamics.

Biological materials play a significant role in the treatment of heavy metal-contaminated soil and wastewater. In this study, the Pb2+ biosorption potential of lichen Evernia prunastri, extensively available at a forest in Bilecik-Turkey, was investigated at batch-scale level. The optimal conditions were determined and the adsorption isotherms, kinetics, and thermodynamic calculations were also done. In order to have detailed knowledge about metal biosorption, SEM, FTIR, and BET analyses were carried out before and after the biosorption process. The optimal pH was found pH4 and the maximum metal uptake capacity was found as 0.067molkg-1. The results of this study indicate that the lichen was effectively applied to the removal of Pb2+ process as an inexpensive biosorbent from industrial wastewater.

Biosorption of heavy metal polluted soil using bacteria and fungi isolated from soil

Heavy metals polluted soils have turned out to be a common environmental problem across the globe due to their toxic effects and accumulation through the food chain. Heavy metals have lethal effects on all forms of life. For instance, plants grown on heavy metal polluted soil show a reduction in growth and yields. A surge in anthropogenic activities and industrial operations has substantially increased the level of heavy metal pollution and release into the environment; hence, there is need to remediate these heavy metal pollutants. Biosorption is an efficient, economical, ecofriendly and convenient techniques of remediating heavy metal polluted soils. It is a widely accepted method that utilizes biomaterials such as natural biomass as biosorbents. The current study was based on the biosorption of copper, chromium, cadmium and nickel polluted soil using bacteria and fungi isolated from soil. Bacterial species isolated were Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Micrococcus, Escherichia, Streptococcus, Enterobacter and Staphylococcus while fungi isolated were Aspergillus niger, Penicillium notatum and Aspergillus flavus. The isolated bacteria were screened for potential to biosorb copper and chromium likewise fungi for cadmium and nickel. Biosorption rate was determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Five milliliters each of a-day-old culture of the screened bacteria and fungi was inoculated into 45 ml of nutrient broth (bacteria) and potato dextrose broth (fungi) having concentrations of 5, 10, 15 and 20 ppm, respectively, of copper, chromium, cadmium and nickel. The conical flasks were incubated at a temperature of 37 °C and 28 °C ± 2 for bacteria and fungi, respectively, for a period of 35 days of inoculation. For the bacterial isolates, the highest biosorption rates of chromium (89.67%) and copper (90.89%) by Pseudomonas aeruginosa were observed at 20 ppm on day 21 and 15 ppm on day 14, respectively, while for the fungi isolates, P. notatum showed highest biosorption rate for cadmium at 10 ppm with 77.67%. Aspergillus niger showed highest biosorption rate for nickel with 81.07% after 28 days of incubation. The results of this study revealed the ability of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to biosorb copper and chromium and also A. niger and P. notatum to biosorb cadmium and nickel from the environment and can be developed for the biosorption of soils polluted with copper, chromium, cadmium and nickel.

Influence of organic matter and CO2 supply on bioremediation of heavy metals by Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus almeriensis in a multimetallic matrix

This research evaluated the influence of organic matter (OM) and CO2 addition on the bioremediation potential of two microalgae typically used for wastewater treatment: Chlorella vulgaris (CV) and Scenedesmus almeriensis (SA). The heavy metal (HM) removal efficiencies and biosorption capacities of both microalgae were determined in multimetallic solutions (As, B, Cu, Mn, and Zn) mimicking the highest pollutant conditions found in the Loa river (Northern Chile). The presence of OM decreased the total biosorption capacity, specially in As (from 2.2 to 0.0 mg/g for CV and from 2.3 to 1.7 mg/g for SA) and Cu (from 3.2 to 2.3 mg/g for CV and from 2.1 to 1.6 mg/g for SA), but its influence declined over time. CO2 addition decreased the total HM biosorption capacity for both microalgae species and inhibited CV growth. Finally, metal recovery using different eluents (HCl, NaOH, and CaCl2) was evaluated at two different concentrations. HCl 0.1 M provided the highest recovery efficiencies, which supported values over 85% of As, 92% of Cu, and ≈100% of Mn and Zn from SA. The presence of OM during the loaded stage resulted in a complete recovery of As, Cu, Mn, and Zn when using HCl 0.1 M as eluent.

Biochar from A Freshwater Macroalga as A Potential Biosorbent for Wastewater Treatment

The multi-elemental composition, surface texture and morphology of biochar, produced by pyrolysis at 300, 350, 400 and 450 °C from freshwater macroalga Cladophora glomerata, as a biosorbent of toxic metals was examined with Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) techniques. It was found that the yield of pyrolysis was inversely proportional to temperature: for 300 °C it was 63%, whereas for 450 °C—47%. The proximate analysis revealed that also biochar’s moisture and volatile matter was inversely proportional to temperature. The content of ash increased with temperature. All biochars were characterized by a similar total pore area of about 20 m2 g−1. FT-IR analysis showed that all biochars peaked at 3500–3100 cm−1 which was attributed to O–H stretching of the hydroxyl groups, at 2850–2970 cm−1, stretching vibrations of C–H bonds in aliphatic CH2 and CH groups, at 1605 cm−1, stretching vibrations from C=C of aromatics, at 1420 cm−1, bending oscillations from CH2, at about 1111 cm−1, stretching vibrations of Si–O, at 618 cm−1, vibrations from Fe–O bonds, and at 475 cm−1—Si–O–Si deformation vibrations. The biosorption properties of biochar towards Cr(III) ions were examined in kinetic studies. The biosorption capacity of biochar increased with an increase of pyrolysis temperature: the highest was for biochar obtained at 450 °C—87.1 mg Cr(III) g−1 and the lowest at 300 °C—45.9 mg g−1. Cladophora biochar also demonstrated a good ability to simultaneously remove metal ions from a multi-metal system, e.g., wastewater. The removal efficiency for Cr(III) was 89.9%, for Cu(II) 97.1% and for Zn(II) 93.7%. The biochar derived from waste-freshwater macroalgae can be a potent and eco-friendly alternative adsorptive material.

Fungal (1 → 3)-α-d-glucans as a new kind of biosorbent for heavy metals

Although the fungal ability to bind heavy metals has been known for many years, it was not determined which component is responsible for this process. The aim of the study was to isolate (1 → 3)-α-d-glucans from various fungi, select the most efficient compound in the biosorption of heavy metals, and determine its characteristics. The best α-glucan for treatment of aqueous solutions from heavy metals (Ni2+, Cd2+, Zn2+, Pb2+) is the polymer isolated from Shiitake, especially its SH 37 variety. Using various techniques, it was confirmed that the studied polysaccharide consists mainly of glucose molecules (75.9%), i.e. glucose α-anomers linked by (1 → 3)-linkage (86%). The well-developed surface, low crystallinity, and the large number of –OH groups provide this polymer with good sorption properties. Probably, the main mechanism of metal uptake is metabolism-independent process that depends on the content and spatial structure of the glucans present in their cell wall.

Metal ions removal from different type of industrial effluents using Spirulina platensis biomass

The biomass of the cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis was used for metal removal from four industrial effluents with different chemical composition. The process of metal bioaccumulation (alive biomass) and biosorption (dry biomass) was studied at the native effluents pH as well as the pH 9.5. Metal uptake by S. platensis biomass was determined by means of neutron activation analysis (NNA). The obtained results show different affinity of biomass to metals presented in effluents. The results of this study have indicated that S. platensis is a very good candidate for the removal of heavy metals from complex industrial effluents.

Https://www.biofueljournal.com/article_88261.html

Effluents containing heavy metals are hazardous to human health and the environment even at low concentrations. It is costly and unsustainable to use conventional methods to remove heavy metals from dilute effluents. Microalgal biomass owing to its high metal biosorption capacity, is a promising alternative biosorbent for treating dilute heavy metal solutions. However, the application of freely suspended algal biomass for metal removal has a number of drawbacks such as small particle size, low chemical resistance, low mechanical strength, and difficulty in separation of biomass and effluent. The present article reviews the techniques used to address these drawbacks. It also discusses the key factors affecting biosorption efficiency including initial concentration of metal ions, contact time, solution pH, solution temperature, biosorbent concentration, agitation rate, and competing ions. Biomass cross-linking with appropriate agents such as polysolfane, formaldehyde, or chlorohydrin could improve mechanical strength, chemical resistance, and separation of the biomass from the effluent. However, cross-linked biomass usually shows low sorption capacity and slow rate of metal uptake. These disadvantages could be minimized by using physical and/or chemical pretreatments prior to biomass cross-linking. Alkaline detergent, sodium hydrogen carbonate without autoclaving, sodium hydroxide or sodium carbonate plus autoclaving, or supercritical carbon dioxide at mild conditions are among the most effective pretreatments. Apart from liberating more latent metal binding sites on the biomass, supercritical CO2 could also improve the porosity of the biomass thereby improving sorption rate of the cross-linked biomass. High sorption capacity and rapid metal uptake will allow substantial reduction in size of biosorption columns, which will consequently improve the economic and sustainability features of algal-based metal biosorption processes.

Flower waste: a novel candidate for the removal of chromium from tannery effluent

Chromium is a highly abundant element and is present in its ionic form in most of the effluent streams. As a consequence, improved and innovative methods of waste water treatment have been developed to remove these metal ions. In this work we used flower waste biomass as a biosorbent to remove Cr from tannery effluent through column experiments. The sorption capacities of biosorbent (fine, coarse and rough grades) were also evaluated by employing chemical pretreatments viz., sodium hydroxide, acetic acid, glutaraldehyde and hydrogen peroxide. The order of percentage removal of Cr using the above pretreatments is: 10% hydrogen peroxide < raw powdered-FWB < 2% glutaraldehyde < 10% acetic acid < 0.1 N sodium hydroxide. Among the different grades of biosorbents used, fine grade adsorbed more Cr (70%) than that of coarse (64%) and rough (62%) sorbents. The removal percentage of Cr from tannery was analysed by using atomic absorption spectroscopy, the functional groups which are responsible for adsorption was examined by Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy and the amorphous behaviour of FWB facilitating metal biosorption was indicated by the X-ray diffractogram. This study showed that pretreated flower waste biomass is a potential sorbent of Cr, which could be successfully used to reduce the Cr content in tannery effluent.

Application of modified Spirulina platensis and Chlorella vulgaris powder on the adsorption of heavy metals from aqueous solutions

One of the effective methods to remove heavy metals is the use of biosorbents. The aim of this study was to assess the adsorption rate of metal ions; cadmium, lead and copper in the aqueous solution with Spirulina platensis and Chlorella vulgaris algae biosorbent sulfuric acid-modified powder. The adsorption rate of metals cadmium, lead and copper via modified Spirulina platensis and Chlorella vulgaris adsorbents by varied adsorbent contents (0.5–5 g), different pH's (3–7), various contact time (5–120 min) and the concentrations of cadmium, lead and copper (5–100 mg L−1) was assessed. The removal percent of metal ions via Spirulina platensis and Chlorella vulgaris biosorbents were different. At optimum pH 5 for copper and optimum pH 6 for cadmium and lead, the equilibrium time 60 min and adsorbent dosage 5 g L−1, the removal percent of cadmium, lead and copper with Spirulina platensis adsorbent was 92.76%, 94.09% and 80.75% respectively and with Chlorella vulgaris adsorbent was 87.52%, 90.09% and 84.75% respectively, wherein lead removal percent via both modified biosorbents was higher in relation to cadmium and copper. Based on the results, metals adsorption followed the Longmuir and second-order kinetics equation models. The isotherm models showed that capacity of modified biosorbents was higher in lead adsorption. The thermodynamics parameters assessment indicated that the process of cadmium, lead and copper ions adsorption on modified biosorbents was endothermic, spontaneous and physico-chemical. Thus, considering the high adsorption efficiency, Spirulina platensis and Chlorella vulgaris can be safely used as an effective option for biosorption of heavy metals from the aqueous solutions.

Effect of plant growth regulators, calcium and citric acid on copper toxicity in pea seedlings

The present investigation aims to study the potential protective role of exogenous applications of gibberellin, auxin, citric acid and calcium on the growth and cellular redox state of pea (Pisum sativum L.) germinating seeds exposed to copper stress. All tested treatments alleviated the adverse effects of Cu-induced toxicity on the growth, cell viability and mobilization of nutrients from the cotyledons. This alleviation of Cu toxicity occurred by limiting heavy metal biosorption and maintaining cellular redox homeostasis. Redox balance, examined through the study of the redox state of nicotinamide couples NAD+/NADH and NADP+/NADPH appeared to be protected by the treatments. This correction was correlated to a modulation of NAD(P)H-oxidase and dehydrogenase activities, such as glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase. The present research provides evidence that supplementation of plants with gibberellin, auxin, citric acid and calcium was an effective approach for enhancing Cu tolerance in pea seedlings.

High Efficiency Mercury Sorption by Dead Biomass of Lysinibacillus Sphaericus-New Insights into the Treatment of Contaminated Water.

Mercury (Hg) is a toxic metal frequently used in illegal and artisanal extraction of gold and silver which makes it a cause of environmental poisoning. Since biosorption of other heavy metals has been reported for several Lysinibacillus sphaericus strains, this study investigates Hg removal. Three L. sphaericus strains previously reported as metal tolerant (CBAM5, Ot4b31, and III(3)7) were assessed with mercury chloride (HgCl2). Bacteria were characterized by scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS-SEM). Sorption was evaluated in live and dead bacterial biomass by free and immobilized cells assays. Hg quantification was achieved through spectrophotometry at 508 nm by reaction of Hg supernatants with dithizone prepared in Triton X-114 and by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GF-AAS). Bacteria grew up to 60 ppm of HgCl2. Non-immobilized dead cell mixture of strains III(3)7 and Ot4b31 showed a maximum sorption efficiency of 28.4 µg Hg/mg bacteria during the first 5 min of contact with HgCl2, removing over 95% of Hg. This process was escalated in a semi-batch bubbling fluidized bed reactor (BFB) using rice husk as the immobilization matrix leading to a similar level of efficiency. EDS-SEM analysis showed that all strains can adsorb Hg as particles of nanometric scale that can be related to the presence of S-layer metal binding proteins as shown in previous studies. These results suggest that L. sphaericus could be used as a novel biological method of mercury removal from polluted wastewater.

Biosorption of heavy metals by a lead (Pb) resistant bacterium, Staphylococcus hominis strain AMB-2.

In the present study, a lead (Pb)-resistant bacterium, Staphylococcus hominis strain AMB-2 was isolated from Mandoli industrial area, Delhi and selected for heavy metal biosorption considering multiple heavy metal resistance. In the batch experiment, both living and dead biomasses of strain AMB-2 showed biosorption of Pb and cadmium (Cd) in single and binary systems as analyzed through Inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. Living biomass exhibited more biosorption of metals than dead biomass in both single and binary systems. However, in the binary system, metals competed for the attachment sites on the bacterial surface, where Pb got more preference over Cd for the same. The underlying mechanism for the biosorption was attachment of the metal ions through functional groups onto the surface of the biomass as revealed by scanning electron microscope-energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Conclusively, this study displayed an effective biotreatment of Pb and Cd from aqueous medium using a low-cost biosorbent prepared from S. hominis strain AMB-2 considering biosafety of microorganisms and an eco-friendly approach.

Lead binding to wild metal-resistant bacteria analyzed by ITC and XAFS spectroscopy

Metal-resistant bacteria can survive exposure to high metal concentrations without any negative impact on their growth. Biosorption is considered to be one of the more effective detoxification mechanisms acting in most bacteria. However, molecular-scale characterization of metal biosorption by wild metal-resistant bacteria has been limited. In this study, the Pb(II) biosorption behavior of Serratia Se1998 isolated from Pb-contaminated soil was investigated through macroscopic and microscopic techniques. A four discrete site non-electrostatic model fit the potentiometric titration data best, suggesting a distribution of phosphodiester, carboxyl, phosphoryl, and amino or hydroxyl groups on the cell surface. The presence of these functional groups was verified by the attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, which also indicated that carboxyl and phosphoryl sites participated in Pb(II) binding simultaneously. The negative enthalpy (−9.11 kJ mol−1) and large positive entropy (81.52 J mol−1 K−1) of Pb(II) binding with the bacteria suggested the formation of inner-sphere complexes by an exothermic process. X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) analysis further indicated monodentate inner-sphere binding of Pb(II) through formation of C−O−Pb and P−O−Pb bonds. We inferred that C−O−Pb bonds formed on the flagellar surfaces, establishing a self-protective barrier against exterior metal stressors. This study has important implications for an improved understanding of metal-resistance mechanisms in wild bacteria and provides guidance for the construction of genetically engineered bacteria for remediation purposes.

Performance of Pleurotus ostreatus Mushrooms and Spent Substrate for the Biosorption of Cd(II) From Aqueous Solution

The capacities of Pleurotus ostreatus mushroom and spent substrate were evaluated for the biosorption of cadmium (II) from aqueous solution in order to select the most efficient material for bioremediation. The optimum sorption conditions were optimized, including the pH of the aqueous solution, contact time, biomass dosage, initial metal concentration, and temperature. The sorption of cadmium on both biosorbents was also evaluated by several kinetic, equilibrium, and thermodynamic models. The possible heavy metal biosorption mechanisms were evaluated through point of zero charge (pHpzc), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (SEM-EDX). Based on the results of column studies, the effectiveness of the P. ostreatus spent substrate was confirmed as a biosorbent for Cd(II) removal from aqueous solutions.

Use of soil fungi in the biosorption of three trace metals (Cd, Cu, Pb): promising candidates for treatment technology?

ABSTRACT Trace metal contamination is a widespread and complex environmental problem. Because fungi are capable of growing in adverse environments, several fungal species could have an interesting potential in remediation technologies for metal contaminated environments. This study proposes to test the ability to tolerate and biosorb three trace metals (Cd, Cu and Pb) of 28 fungal isolates collected from different soils. First, a tolerance assay in agar medium was performed. Each isolate was grown in the presence of Cd, Cu, and Pb at different concentrations. Then, we exposed each soil fungus to 50 mg L−1 of Cd, Cu, or Pb during 3 days in liquid medium. Parameters such as biomass production, pH, and biosorption were evaluated. The results showed that responses to metal exposure are very diverse even with fungi isolated from the same soil sample, or belonging to the same genera. Several isolates could be considered as good metal biosorbents and could be used in future mycoremediation studies. Among the 28 fungi tested, Absidia cylindrospora biosorbed more than 45% of Cd and Pb, Chaetomium atrobrunneum biosorbed more than 45% of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Coprinellus micaceus biosorbed 100% of Pb.