Removal of toxic heavy metals from contaminated ground water by a fungal adsorption process. Final Technical report, 15 September 1986-14 September 1989

Technical Report · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:7244730

Huang, C P; Morehart, A L; Huang, C J; Westman, D C; Quirk, K

The metal adsorption behavior of 12 species of fungi was investigated using batch reactors. Specific surface area and surface characteristics of the fungal biomass were determined. Two typical fungal species, Aspergillus oryzae and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were chosen for further investigation. Factors such as growth conditions, pretreatment of biomass and pH of the metal solution were thoroughly studied. The results indicate that the optimum growth condition for metal take-up by A. oryzae biomass was at the C/N ratio of 10 - 15. The amounts of Cu(II), Cd(II), Zn(II) and Ni(II) removal increased with pH. The removal of Pb(II) by fungal biomass is pH-independent. Metal-laden fungal biomass can be regenerated by acid-washing. Moreover, the acid-washing is the most effective pretreatment of biomass for heavy metal removal.

• Research Organization: Delaware Univ., Newark, DE (USA). Dept. of Civil Engineering
• OSTI ID: 7244730
• Report Number(s): PB-90-138637/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
CADMIUM
BIODEGRADATION
COPPER
FUNGI
GROWTH
GROUND WATER
CONTAMINATION
NICKEL
ZINC
ADSORPTION
ASPERGILLUS
BATCH CULTURE
BIOREACTORS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PH VALUE
PROGRESS REPORT
REMOVAL
SACCHAROMYCES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
DOCUMENT TYPES
ELEMENTS
EUMYCOTA
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
METALS
MICROORGANISMS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
SORPTION
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WATER
YEASTS
540320* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology