Biosorption performance toward Co(II) and Cd(II) by irradiated Fusarium solani biomass

Fusarium solani biomass plays a significant role in water pollution remediation due to its ability to sequester heavy metals, particularly cobalt (Co(II)) and cadmium (Cd(II)), which pose severe environmental and health risks. This study aimed to identify fungi from sewage-contaminated sites and evaluate their efficiency in absorbing and reducing Co(II) and Cd(II) ions. The biosorption potential of irradiated Fusarium solani biomass for removing Co(II) and Cd(II) ions from aqueous solutions was investigated. Six fungal isolates were screened, and the most promising isolate, identified as F. solani, was selected for further research. The biomass was exposed to different gamma irradiation doses (0, 1, 3, and 5 kGy), and its biosorption efficiency was assessed. The highest biosorption efficiencies were observed with the biomass exposed to 5 kGy (FS-5), achieving 37% for Co(II) and 90% for Cd(II) removal within 25 min. The surface area of the biosorbent increased from 13.12 m² g^-1 for unexposed biomass (FS-0) to 34.87 m² g^-1 for FS-5, enhancing the biosorption capacity. The adsorption kinetics followed a pseudo second order model with high correlation coefficients (R² > 0.993), indicating chemisorption as the rate-limiting step. Isotherm studies showed that the Langmuir model provided a better fit to the experimental data, with maximum adsorption capacities of 4.44 mg g^-1 for Co(II) and 21.00 mg g^-1. This study provides valuable insights into the effective removal of Cd and Co from polluted sites, underscoring the potential of developing eco-friendly and cost-effective bioremediation approaches.