Pak. J. Bot., 43(1): 419-425, 2011.

Back to Contents	Pak. J. Bot., 43(1): 419-425, 2011.	FREE FULL TEXT PDF	Back to Contents
			Updated: 26-02-11
	BIOSORPTION OF HEAVY METALS BY PRETREATED BIOMASS OF ASPERGILLUS NIGER AMNA JAVAID^, RUKHSANA BAJWA AND TARIQ MANZOOR Abstract: The present study reports the biosorption potential of chemically pretreated mycelial biomass of fungus Aspergillus niger* van. Tieghem for Cu(II) and Ni(II) ions from aqueous phase. Fungal biomass was pretreated with different types of alkaline/salts (NaOH, NaHCO_3,Na₂CO_3,NaCl & CaCl_2,), acids (HCl & H₂SO₄) and detergent. Pretreatment of biomass with Na₂CO₃ and NaOH were proved to increase or maintain adsorption efficiency and capacity in comparison to untreated biomass. Pretreatment with NaHCO₃, detergent, NaCl and CaCl₂significantly reduce (10-40%) metal sequestering efficiency of the adsorbent. Whereas, acid treatments resulted in drastic loss (80%) in metal uptake efficiency of the biomass. Amongst various pretreatments, Na₂CO₃ could be use efficiently for the removal of Ni(II) and Cu(II) ions from aqueous solution using A. niger. Institute of Plant Pathology, University of the Punjab, Quaid-e-Azam Campus, Lahore-54590, Pakistan. *Corresponding author E-mail: aamnaa29@yahoo.com

Back to Contents			Back to Contents
	Your browser does not support inline frames or is currently configured not to display inline frames.

Institute of Plant Pathology, University of the Punjab, Quaid-e-Azam Campus, Lahore-54590, Pakistan.