Journal of Biotechnology & Biomaterials
Open Access

Abstract

Heavy metal concentrations in soil treated with industrial wastewater of Gwalior (M.P), India were determined. The analysis of test samples revealed high levels of Cu. An A.lentulus and four bacterial spp. were isolated from sample and were characterized on the basis of morphological, cultural and biochemical characteristics. MICs of Cu (II) for each isolate were determined. All the strains isolated from sample harbored resistance to copper. Heavy metal resistant fungi were isolated from an electroplating industrial effluent samples that uses copper for plating. These isolates were tested to evaluate their applicability for heavy metal removal from industrial wastewaters. Initially the physico- chemical parameters of the sample were analyzed. The optimum condition of pH, biomass concentration and heavy metal concentration were determine for microbial growth on biosorbents and correlated with heavy metal removal. The observed condition was applied for the biosorption process in immobilized and dead fungal cells. The biosorption of immobilized cells of A. lentulus was 89% of Cu whereas the dead cells of A. lentulus were 74%. Experimental results reveal that all the immobilized isolates have potential application for the removal of Cu2+ from industrial wastewater than the dead fungal cells. On to the surfaces of immobilized biomass were performed static and dynamic adsorption studies of Cu2+ ions at fixed pH and ionic strength of the aqueous metal ion solutions. The adsorption data were applied to Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm equations and various static parameters were calculated. The dynamic nature of adsorption was quantified in terms of several kinetic constants such as rate constants for adsorption.

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