Lead Biosorption Characterisation of Aspergillus piperis

Maria Martha Marthina de Wet and Hendrik Gideon Brink
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Maria Martha Marthina de Wet: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Pretoria, Lynnwood Rd., Hatfield 0081, South Africa
Hendrik Gideon Brink: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Pretoria, Lynnwood Rd., Hatfield 0081, South Africa

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 23, 1-18

Abstract: In this study, the Pb(II) adsorption capabilities of the heavy metal tolerant strain of fungus, Aspergillus piperis , were studied. This study involved finding optimal growth conditions using a plating technique, and optimal adsorption conditions using submerged fermentation and fractional factorial experimental design. The adsorption behaviour was then elucidated using isotherm and kinetic models, of which the one surface Langmuir isotherm provided the best fit, with a maximum predicted adsorption capacity of 275.82 mg g −1 . The kinetic models suggested that internal mass transfer is the driving force behind the reaction rate. After adsorption, biomass surface characterisation was undertaken using FESEM, EDS, and ATR-FTIR to explain observations. The system was characterised by a cation exchange mechanism with strong carboxyl and organophosphorus group interactions. This study demonstrates that due to the ease of propagation and high adsorption capacity, this locally sourced fungal strain is an ideal adsorbent for industrial Pb(II) bioremediation.

Keywords: Aspergillus piperis; lead; heavy metals; adsorption; biosorption; mycoremediation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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