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Heavy metal removal by biosorption using Phanerochaete chrysosporium
M Gopal1, K Pakshirajan, T Swaminathan
1Biotechnology Research Centre, Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai.
Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology
|October 25, 2002
Summary
Microbial biosorption using Phanerochaete chrysosporium offers a cost-effective way to remove heavy metals like lead, copper, and cadmium from wastewater. Optimization studies confirmed its effectiveness in reducing metal ion concentrations.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Biotechnology
- Water Treatment
Background:
- Wastewater contamination by heavy metals poses significant environmental and health risks.
- Biosorption using microbial biomass presents a sustainable and economical alternative to conventional heavy metal removal methods.
- Phanerochaete chrysosporium is explored as a potential biosorbent for efficient metal ion sequestration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the biosorptive capacity of Phanerochaete chrysosporium for copper (II), lead (II), and cadmium (II) ions.
- To optimize operational parameters including initial metal ion concentration, pH, and biosorbent dosage for maximum metal removal.
- To correlate metal removal efficiency with chosen operational parameters using response surface methodology.
Main Methods:
- Biosorption experiments were conducted using Phanerochaete chrysosporium as the adsorbent.
- Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize key operational parameters.
- The study investigated the influence of initial metal ion concentration, pH, and biosorbent dosage on removal efficiency.
- Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms were used to model the adsorption process.
Main Results:
- Phanerochaete chrysosporium demonstrated high adsorptive capacities for copper, lead, and cadmium ions.
- Removal efficiencies were found to be highest for lead, followed by copper, and then cadmium (Pb > Cu > Cd).
- Increased initial metal ion concentration generally led to decreased removal efficiency.
- Optimized operational parameters significantly enhanced metal ion removal.
Conclusions:
- Phanerochaete chrysosporium is an effective and cost-efficient biosorbent for removing lead, copper, and cadmium from wastewater.
- Response surface methodology successfully optimized operational parameters for enhanced heavy metal removal.
- The biosorption process followed both Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherm models, indicating favorable uptake characteristics.