Fungal Waste-Biomasses as Potential Low-Cost Biosorbents for Decolorization of Textile Wastewaters

Abstract

Abstract:The biosorption potential of three fungal waste-biomasses (Acremonium strictum, Acremonium sp. and Penicillium sp.) from pharmaceutical companies was compared with that of a selected biomass (Cunninghamella elegans), already proven to be very effective in dye biosorption. Among the waste-biomasses, A. strictum was the most efficient (decolorization percentage up to 90% within 30 min) with regard to three simulated dye baths; nevertheless it was less active than C. elegans which was able to produce a quick and substantial decolorization of all the simulated dye baths (up to 97% within 30 min). The biomasses of A. strictum and C. elegans were then tested for the treatment of nine real exhausted dye baths. A. strictum was effective at acidic or neutral pH, whereas C. elegans confirmed its high efficiency and versatility towards exhausted dye baths characterised by different classes of dyes (acid, disperse, vat, reactive) and variation in pH and ionic strength. Finally, the effect of pH on the biosorption process was evaluated to provide a realistic estimation of the validity of the laboratory results in an industrial setting. The C. elegans biomass was highly effective from pH 3 to pH 11 (for amounts of adsorbed dye up to 1054 and 667 mg of dye g −1 biomass dry weight, respectively); thus, this biomass can be considered an excellent and exceptionally versatile biosorbent material.

Assessment of Food Processing and Pharmaceutical Industrial Wastes as Potential Biosorbents: A Review

“…A. strictum was found to be the most efficient biosorbent with percentage removal of up to 90% in both acidic and neutral conditions. These biomasses were less active compared to Cunninghamella elegans which is a biomass known to be an efficient biosorbent that removed 97% of the dye color [ 121 ]. Clitopilus scyphoides ( Pleurotus mutilus ) was also used to remove Basic Blue dye [ 119 ] and a biosorption capacity of 200 mg/g was obtained within about 60 min, while Reactive Black 5 (RB5) dye was successfully removed by Corynebacterium glutamicum waste produced from lysine fermentation industry [ 127 ].…”

“…In general, it can be observed from the table that sorption capacities of pharmaceutical and fungal biomass wastes for heavy metals and dyes are higher than those of pectin-rich fruit wastes or olive oil wastes. Sorption in multicomponent systems was well described by either Langmuir as in case of simulated acid bath for wool (SABW) dye mixture [ 121 ] or extended Langmuir as in case of binary mixtures of heavy metals [ 105 ].…”

Biosorption with autochthonous and allochthonous fungal biomasses for bioremediation and detoxification of landfill leachate

“…Among different biosorbents, fungal biomasses are of particular interest for pollutant biosorption, thanks to the variety of structural components of their cell wall that ensures many different functional groups, which bind molecules to varying degrees (Gadd, 2009;Tigini et al 2012). Moreover, fungal byproduct biomasses could present several advantages with respect to other biomasses, since they are abundantly available from the fermentation industry (Prigione et al 2012).…”

Kinetics of Adsorptive Removal of Drimarene Brilliant Red from Aqueous Solution Using Untreated Agricultural Residues

“…According to estimates, 12-20 tonnes/day production of finished fabric results into generation of 1,000-3,000 m 3 . Globally more than 1´10 7 kg/year of dyes stuff is produced and contributes about 1-2´10 6 kg of active dye into freshwater bodies annually (Prigione et al, 2012;Allen et al, 2003). These dyes are considered responsible for dermatitis, allergies, skin irritation, cell mutation and cancer.…”