Recovery of metal ions by microfungal filters

Many microfungi contain chitin/chitosan as an integral part of the cell wall structure. The binding of toxic and heavy metal ions by chitosan or partly deacetylated chitin is a direct consequence of the base strength of the primary amine group and is most effective for those metals that form complexes with ammonia. Of the microfungi studied, hyphae from Mucor mucedo and Rhizomucor miehei, after treatment with hydroxide to expose the chitin/chitosan, were found to be most effective in the capture of metal ions. Chemically treated mycelia have so far been shown to bind silver, zinc, lead, copper, nickel, cobalt, cadmium, iron and chromium, with the efficiency of metal-ion binding apparently being inversely proportional to the valency state of the metal ions to be bound. Wet-laid papers produced from mixed slurries of treated mycelia and various conventional paper-making and textile fibres have exceptionally good tensile- and bursting-strength properties, particularly in the wet state. Papers containing 1 g treated mycelia removed up to 90% of various metal ions in solution (50 cm3, 1.5 mmol dm-3) with flow rates of 0.5 cm3 cm-2 min-1. However, the total metal-ion binding capacities of single-thickness microfungal papers are limited under constant flow conditions. The total volume flowing through the system before metal-ion breakthrough occurs increases in direct proportion to the number of sheets of microfungal paper but the concomitant reduction in flow rates becomes a limiting factor. Mycelia-containing structures that allow efficient metal-ion binding at commercially acceptable flow rates are currently being investigated.