Multi-biological combined system: A mechanistic approach for removal of multiple heavy metals

Rohit Sharma; Teenu Jasrotia; Rajeev Kumar; Raman Kumar; Asma A Alothman; Murefah Mana Al-Anazy; Khadraa N Alqahtani; Ahmad Umar

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130018

Multi-biological combined system: A mechanistic approach for removal of multiple heavy metals

Chemosphere. 2021 Aug:276:130018. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130018. Epub 2021 Feb 20.

Authors

Rohit Sharma¹, Teenu Jasrotia², Rajeev Kumar³, Raman Kumar⁴, Asma A Alothman⁵, Murefah Mana Al-Anazy⁶, Khadraa N Alqahtani⁵, Ahmad Umar⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biotechnology, Maharishi Markandeshwar Deemed to Be University, Mullana (Ambala), 133207, Haryana, India.
² Department of Environment Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India; Department of Chemistry and Centre of Advanced Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India.
³ Department of Environment Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India.
⁴ Department of Biotechnology, Maharishi Markandeshwar Deemed to Be University, Mullana (Ambala), 133207, Haryana, India. Electronic address: ramankumar4@gmail.com.
⁵ Chemistry Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.
⁶ Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, 11671, Saudi Arabia.
⁷ Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Arts and Promising Centre for Sensors and Electronic Devices (PCSED), Najran University, Najran, 11001, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: ahmadumar786@gmail.com.

PMID: 33714881
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130018

Abstract

In this work, interactions of diverse fungal species by the manipulation of cell concentrations has been utilized as the driving feature for the removal of hazardous multi-metals from the aqueous solutions. This study is focused on the exploitation of internal structures of microbes as a repository of lead (Pb(II)) and nickel (Ni(II)). For the concerned purpose 24 heavy metal resistant fungi are isolated from different industrial waste sites to form different microbial combinations as a single unit 'consortia' for achieving highest possible removal rates. Polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing are involved for the biochemical characterization and phylogenetic analysis of the screened isolates. The identification and screening studies reveal isolated strains as two Pb resistant fungi viz. K₁SF-Pb15 (Aspergillus terreus) and SEF-Pb (Talaromyces islandicus) which have shown metal removal up to 93% and two Ni(II) tolerant fungal isolates namely, MEF-Ni-11 (Neurospora crassa) and Ni-1 (Aspergillus flavus) with removal efficiency of more than 91%. Relationship has been validated between the biosorption capacity and efficiency of the novel consortium under the influence of variable pH, time duration, initial concentration of Pb(II) and Ni(II), and inoculum size which has led to the foundation of effective and economical parameters for its exploitation in practical fields. The fungal consortia when applied on various industrial effluents has exhibited more than 95% of removal for both Pb(II) and Ni(II) simultaneously. The detailed mechanistic insight has shown the involvement of physical, chemical and ionic forces for the removal of heavy metals. So the designed novel multi-biological combined system acted as a repository for Pb(II) and Ni(II) ions with a greater potential which can be guided by the mechanistic methodology for the retrieval and remediation of multiple heavy metals from the real waste water samples.

Keywords: Biosorption capacity; Consortia; Fungi; Heavy metals.

MeSH terms

Adsorption
Aspergillus
Cadmium*
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Metals, Heavy*
Phylogeny
Talaromyces

Substances

Metals, Heavy
Cadmium

Supplementary concepts

Aspergillus terreus
Talaromyces islandicus