Removal of thallium from aqueous solutions by modified Aspergillus niger biomass

The present study involves an investigation of various treated fungal biomasses of Aspergillus niger for the removal of thallium from aqueous solutions. Batch pH and kinetic studies were carried out to examine the effects of pH and contact time on the adsorption process. Among various pH values studied, the optimum pH was found to be between 4 and 5. The equilibrium time for Tl adsorption was found to be 6 h and the rate of Tl adsorption was rapid in the initial hours. Both Lagergren’s pseudo first-order model and Ho’s pseudo second-order model well described the reaction kinetics. Batch adsorption experiments conducted at room temperature (22 ± 1 °C) showed that the adsorption pattern followed the Freundlich isotherm model. Column studies using iron oxide-coated immobilized fungal biomass showed lower adsorption capacities compared to batch studies.