Biosorption of Hg2+, Cd2+, and Zn2+ by Ca-alginate and immobilized wood-rotting fungus Funalia trogii

J Hazard Mater. 2004 Jun 18;109(1-3):191-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2004.03.017.

Abstract

Funalia trogii biomass was immobilized in Ca-alginate gel beads. The live and heat inactivated immobilized forms were used for the biosorption of Hg2+, Cd2+ and Zn2+ ions by using plain Ca-alginate gel beads as a control system. The effect of pH was investigated and the maximum adsorption of metal ions on the Ca-alginate and both live and inactivated immobilized fungal preparations were observed at pH 6.0. The temperature change between 15 and 45 degrees C did not affect the biosorption capacity. The biosorption of Hg2+, Cd2+ and Zn2+ ions on the Ca-alginate beads and on both immobilized forms was studied in aqueous solutions in the concentration range of 30-600 mg/L. The metal biosorption capacities of the heat inactivated immobilized F. trogii for Hg2+, Cd2+ and Zn2+ were 403.2, 191.6, and 54.0 mg/g, respectively, while Hg2+, Cd2+ and Zn2+ biosorption capacities of the immobilized live form were 333.0, 164.8 and 42.1 mg/g, respectively. The same affinity order on a molar basis was observed for single or multi-metal ions (Hg2+ > Cd2+ > Zn2+). The Langmuir and the Freundlich type models were found to exhibit good fit to the experimental data. The experimental data were analyzed using the first-order (Langergren equations) and the second order (Ritchie equations). The experimental biosorption capacity with time is found to be best fit the second-order equations. The alginate-fungus system could be regenerated by washing with a solution of hydrochloride acid (10 mM). The percent desorption achieved was as high as 97. The biosorbents were reused in five biosorption-desorption cycles without significant loss of their initial biosorption capacity.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adsorption
  • Alginates / chemistry*
  • Cadmium / chemistry*
  • Fungi / metabolism*
  • Glucuronic Acid / chemistry*
  • Hexuronic Acids / chemistry*
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Kinetics
  • Mercury / chemistry*
  • Models, Chemical*
  • Solutions
  • Sorption Detoxification / methods
  • Temperature
  • Zinc / chemistry*

Substances

  • Alginates
  • Hexuronic Acids
  • Solutions
  • Cadmium
  • Glucuronic Acid
  • Mercury
  • Zinc