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ABILITY OF LOOFA SPONGE-IMMOBILIZED FUNGAL BIOMASS TO REMOVE LEAD IONS FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTION

MUHAMMAD IQBAL* AND R.G.J. EDYVEAN**

Abstract: A new biosorbent was developed by immobilizing a white rot basidiomycete Phanerochaete chrysosporium within low cost and easily available matrix of loofa sponge. Fungal biomass immobilized on loofa sponge (FBILS) adsorbed Pb(II) very efficiently from aqueous solution and biosorption equilibrium was established in about 1 h. No loss to biosorption capacity of FBILS was found due to the presence of loofa sponge, indeed as compared to free fungal biomass (FFB) an increase of 24.27% was noted in the biosorption capacity of FBILS. Maximum biosorption capacities for FBILS and FFB were found as 136.75 and 110.04 mg Pb(II) g^-1 biomass, respectively. Pb(II)-laden FBILS was regenerated using 50 mM HCl, with up to 99% recovery and reused in seven biosorption-desorption cycles without any significant loss in biosorption capacity. FBILS were found to very strong, both physically and chemically, and can resist a wide variation in pH, temperature and agitation without any visible change in shape, structure or texture. This study for the first time reports that FBILS have a high biosorption capacity to Pb(II) and can be used as an effective biosorbent for the removal of Pb(II) or other heavy metals from industrial wastewater.
 

Environment Biotechnology Group, Biotechnology and Food Research Centre, PCSIR Laboratories Complex, Lahore-54600, Pakistan.
** Biological and Environmental Systems Group, Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S1 3JD, UK
Corresponding author E-mail:  iqbalmdr@brain.net.pk, Tel.: +42-9230688; Fax: +42-9230705