Metal biosorption by PAN-immobilized fungal biomass in simulated wastewaters

The ability of microorganisms to remove metal ions from solution was investigated by using dead fungal biomass. The latter was immobilized by polyacrylonitrile, a known binding polymer for inorganic ion exchangers. This product was examined in batchwise experiments for the removal of toxic metals from aqueous mixtures containing copper, zinc and nickel (i.e. simulated wastewaters) in order to examine whether this separation technique may improve biomass performance as a metals sorbent. The metal removal capacities of the beads PAN-B/50% for zinc, copper and nickel were 16, 7 and 0.25 mg g−1, respectively, while the zinc, copper and nickel adsorption capacities of PAN-B/75% were 18, 7.9 and 0.25 mg g−1, respectively. The obtained results were compared with those using plain dispersed biomass. Certain column experiments were also performed. Promising results were obtained in the laboratory, as effective metal removals were observed.