Biosorption of Lead(II) Ions by Fungal Biomass of Aspergillus Niger and Penicillium Sp.

Beh, Min Chee (2020) Biosorption of Lead(II) Ions by Fungal Biomass of Aspergillus Niger and Penicillium Sp. Final Year Project (Bachelor), Tunku Abdul Rahman University College.

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Abstract

Biosorption is defined as a property of certain types of inactive, non-living microbial biomass to bind and concentrate heavy metals from very dilute aqueous solution. Therefore, biosorption is considered as a good alternative way to remove heavy metal contaminants from effluents. The objective of this project is to study the effect of pH, biomass dosage, initial concentration and contact time on biosorption of lead ions using Aspergillus niger and Penicillium sp. fungal biomass, and to determine the isotherm and kinetics of the adsorption of lead ions on Aspergillus niger and Penicillium sp. biomass. Biosorption experiments on the fungal biomasses were conducted at pH range of 3 to 10, followed by different biomass dosage, and then batch kinetic experiments with initial concentrations ranging from 20 mg/L to 180 mg/L at different contact times which were 15 min, 30 min, 45 min, 60 min, 75 min, 90 min, 120 min, 180 min and 240 min. The remaining lead(II) ions in the samples were measured using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. At optimum parameters which were pH 4 and biomass dose 2 g/L, Penicillium sp. biomass showed highest lead removal efficiency which was 23.8973 mg/g whereas for Aspergillus niger biomass was 21.9642 mg/g. The biosorption equilibrium for both fungi was achieved at two hours at experimental conditions of pH 4, initial lead(II) concentrations ranged from 20 mg/L to 180 mg/L, biomass dose 2 g/L, total contact time 4 hours, agitating speed 150 rpm and room temperature. Freundlich isotherm model and intraparticle diffusion kinetic model were used to describe the reaction better than the other models used in this study. The maximum lead removal efficiency for both fungi were obtained at pH 4 and biomass dose 2 g/L, biosorption equilibrium achieved at 2 hours contact time and both fungal experimental data best fitted Freundlich isotherm model and intraparticle diffusion kinetic model.