A Study on Biosorption Potential of Aspergillus sp. of Tannery Effluent

Arasappan Sugasini^*, Kalyanaraman Rajagopal, Narasimhan Banu

Department of Biotechnology, Vels University, Chennai, India.

DOI: 10.4236/abb.2014.510100                

Abstract

Chromium toxicity is one of the major environmental pollutants. As conventional methods for heavy metal removal are very expensive, bioremediation using fungi is extensively explored. Therefore in the present investigation, out of 23 fungi isolated from tannery effluent, 4 Aspergillus species namely A. terreus, A. tamarii, A. flavus and A. niger were selected for evaluating chromium tolerance and biosorption potential. Growth of the fungi was tested using various concentrations of Potassium dichromate (Cr VI) viz., 1 mM, 3 mM and 5 mM amended in potato dextrose agar. For all the fungi, growth was observed only in 1 mM and 3 mM. No growth was observed in 5 mM. Biosorption efficiency of both live and alkali pretreated Aspergillus species was compared. In the present study, alkali pretreated form exhibited highest biosorption efficiency than the live biomass in which A. terreus showed highest chromium biosorption potential compared to the other fungi.

Keywords

Aspergillus, Chromium, Alkali Pretreated, Biosorption, Live Biomass

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Volesky, B. (2001) Detoxification of Metal-Bearing Effluents: Biosorption for the Next Century. Hydrometallurgy, 59, 203-216. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0304-386X(00)00160-2
[2]	Sivaprakash, A., Aravindhan, R., Raghava Rao, J. and Unni Nair, B. (2009) Kinetics and Equilibrium Studies on the Biosorption of Hexavalent Chromium from Aqueous Solutions. Applied Ecology and Environmental Research, 7, 45-57.
[3]	Congeevaram, S., Dhanarani, S., Park, J., Dexilin, M. and Thamaraiselvi, K. (2007) Biosorption of Chromium and Nickel by Heavy Metal Resistant Fungal and Bacterial Isolates. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 146, 270-277. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2006.12.017
[4]	Abdel-Razek, A.S. (2011) Removal of Chromium Ions from Liquid Waste Solutions Using Immobilized Cunninghamella elegans. Nature and Science, 9, 211-219.
[5]	Sen, M. and Ghosh Dastidar, M. (2010) Chromium Removal Using Various Biosorbents. Iranian Journal of Environmental Health Science Engineering, 7, 182-190.
[6]	Vijayaraghavan, K. and Yun, Y.S. (2008) Bacterial Biosorbents and Biosorption. Biotechnology Advances, 26, 266-291. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biotechadv.2008.02.002
[7]	Ahalya, N., Ramachandra, T.V. and Kanamadi, R.D. (2003) Biosorption of Heavy Metals. Research Journal of Chemistry and Environment, 7, 71-78.
[8]	Magyarosy, A., Laidlaw, R.D., Kilaas, R., Echer, C., Clark, D.S. and Keasling, J.D. (2002) Nickel Accumulation and Nickel Oxalate Precipitation by Aspergillus niger. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 59, 382-388. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00253-002-1020-x
[9]	Rahim, M.K., Mostafa, C., Hossein, M., Yusef, K.K. and Shahin, O. (2012) Biosorption of Cd and Ni by Inactivated Bacteria Isolated from Agricultural Soil Treated with Sewage Sludge. Ecohydrology and Hydrobiology, 12, 191-198. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1642-3593(12)70203-3
[10]	Chu, K. and Hasim, M. (2004) Quantitative Analysis of Copper Biosorption by the Microalga Chlorella vulgaris. Environmental Engineering Science, 21, 139-147. http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/109287504773087318
[11]	Gadd, G.M. (2009) Biosorption: Critical Review of Scientific Rationale, Environmental Importance and Significance for Pollution Treatment. Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, 84, 13-28. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jctb.1999
[12]	Gupta, R., Ahuja, P., Khan, S., Saxena, R.K. and Mohapatra, H. (2000) Microbial Biosorbents: Meeting Challenges of Heavy Metal Pollution in Aqueous Solutions. Current Science, 78, 967-973.
[13]	Bai, R.S. and Abraham, T.E. (2002) Studies on Enhancement of Cr(VI) Biosorption by Chemically Modified Biomass of Rhizopus nigricans. Water Research, 36, 1224-1236. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0043-1354(01)00330-X
[14]	Awofolu, O.R., Okonkwo, J.O., Merwe, R.R.D., Badenhorst, J. and Jordaan, E. (2006) A New Approach to Chemical Modification Protocols of Aspergillus niger and Sorption of Lead Ion by Fungal Species. Electronic Journal of Biotechnology, 9, 340-348.
[15]	Loukidou, M.X., Matis, K.A., Zouboulis, A.L. and Kyriakidou, M.L. (2003) Removal of As(V) from Wastewaters by Chemically Modified Fungal Biomass. Water Research, 37, 4544-4552. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0043-1354(03)00415-9
[16]	Park, D., Yun, Y. and Park, J.M. (2005) Studies on Hexavalent Chromium Biosorption by Chemically-Treated Biomass of Ecklonia sp. Chemosphere, 60, 1356-1364. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2005.02.020
[17]	Kavita, B., Limbachia, J. and Keharia, H. (2011) Hexavalent Chromium Sorption by Biomass of Chromium Tolerant Pythium sp. Journal of Basic Microbiology, 51, 173-182. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jobm.201000191
[18]	Yan, G. and Viraraghavan, T. (2000) Effect of Pretreatment on the Bioadsorption of Heavy Metals on Mucor rouxi. Water South Africa Journal, 26, 119-123.
[19]	Barnett, H.L. and Hunter, B.B. (1999) Illustrated Genera of Imperfect Fungi. Prentice Hall Inc., Upper Saddle River.
[20]	Tahir, A. (2012) Resistant Fungal Biodiversity of Electroplating Effluent and Their Metal Tolerance Index. In: Sebayang, D., Ed., Electroplating, InTech, Lahore, 137-144.
[21]	Ahmad, I., Zafar, S. and Aqil, F. (2005) Heavy Metal Biosorption Potential of Aspergillus and Rhizopus sp. Isolated from Wastewater Treated Soil. Journal of Applied Sciences & Environmental Management, 9, 123-126.
[22]	Shazia, A., Mahmood-ul-Hassan, M., Rizwan, A., Vishandas, S. and Muhammad, Y. (2013) Metal Tolerance Potential of Filamentous Fungi Isolated from Soils Irrigated with Untreated Municipal Effluent. Soil & Environment, 32, 55-62.
[23]	Zafar, S., Aqil, F. and Ahmad, I. (2007) Metal Tolerance and Biosorption Potential of Filamentous Fungi Isolated from Metal Contaminated Agricultural Soil. Bioresource Technology, 98, 2557-2561. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2006.09.051
[24]	Srivastava, S. and Thakur, I.S. (2006) Biosorption Potency of Aspergillus niger for Removal of Cr(VI). Current Microbiology, 53, 232-237. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00284-006-0103-9
[25]	Al-Garni, S.M., Ghanem, K.M. and Bahobail, A.S. (2009) Biosorption Characteristics of Aspergillus fumigatus in Removal of Cadmium from an Aqueous Solution. African Journal of Biotechnology, 8, 4163-4172.
[26]	Karaca, H., Tay, T. and Kivanç, M. (2010) Kinetics of Lead Ion Biosorption from Aqueous Solution onto Lyophilized Aspergillus niveus. Water Practice and Technology, 5, 1-10.
[27]	Cabuk, A., Ilhan, S., Filik, C. and Çaliskan, F. (2005) Pb2+ Biosorption by Pretreated Fungal Biomass. Turkish Journal of Biology, 29, 23-28.
[28]	Akar, T. and Tunali, S. (2006) Biosorption Characteristics of Aspergillus flavus Biomass for Removal of Pb(II) and Cu(II) Ions from an Aqueous Solution. Bioresource Technology, 97, 1780-1787. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2005.09.009
[29]	Sun, Y.M., Horng, C.Y., Chang, F.L., Cheng, L.C. and Tian, W.X. (2010) Biosorption of Lead, Mercury and Cadmium Ions by Aspergillus terreus Immobilized in a Natural Matrix. Polish Journal of Microbiology, 59, 37-44.
[30]	Hassan, S.W. and El-Kassas, H.Y. (2012) Biosorption of Cadmium from Aqueous Solutions Using a Local Fungus Aspergillus cristatus (Glaucus Group). African Journal of Biotechnology, 11, 2276-2286.
[31]	Sen, M. and Ghosh Dastidar, M. (2007) Biosorption of Cr(VI) By Resting Cells of Aspergillus sp. Iranian Journal of Environmental Health Science and Engineering, 4, 9-12.
[32]	Prasenjit, B. and Sumathi, S. (2005) Uptake of Chromium by Aspergillus foetidus. Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management, 7, 88-92. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10163-005-0131-8
[33]	Roane, T.M. (2000) Lead Resistance to Two Bacterial Isolates from Heavy Metals-Contaminated Soils. Microbial Ecology, 37, 218-224. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s002489900145
[34]	Raja Rao, P. and Bhargavi, Ch. (2013) Biosorption of Heavy Metals Using Pretreated Biomass of Fungal Species. International Journal of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, 3, 171-180.
[35]	Das, N., Charumathi, D. and Vimala, R. (2007) Effect of Pretreatment on Cd2+ Biosorption by Mycelial Biomass of Pleurotus florida. African Journal of Biotechnology, 6, 2555-2558.
[36]	Abdoun-Ouallouche, K., Djefal-kerrar, A., Amrani, S. and Zerrouki, S. (2014) Removal of Lead and Mercury from Aqueous Solutions by Pretreated Rhizopus stolonifer. International Proceedings of Chemical, Biological & Environmental Engineering, 65, 1.
[37]	Chikkhara, S. and Dhankhar, R. (2008) Biosorption of Cr(VI) Ions from Electroplating Effluent Using Immobilized Aspergillus niger Biomass. Journal of Environmental Biology, 29, 773-778.
[38]	El-Morsy, E.S.M. (2004) Cunninghamella echinulata, a New Biosorbent of Metal Ions from Polluted Water in Egypt. Mycologia, 96, 1183-1189. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3762133