Pb^2+ Biosorption by Pretreated Fungal Biomass

The effect of pretreatment on the Pb2+ biosorption capacity of fungal biomasses, Aspergillus versicolor, Metarrhiziumanisopliae var. anisopliae, and Penicillium verrucosum, was investigated. For this purpose, the biomasses were subjected to physical treatments such as heat and autoclaving, and chemical treatments such as sodium hydroxide, formaldehyde, gluteraldehyde, aceticacid, hydrogen peroxide, commercial laundry detergent, orthophosphoric acid and dimethyl sulfoxide.Dimethyl sulfoxide, hydrogen peroxide and gluteraldehyde increased biosorption of Pb2+ in comparison with the A. versicolor livebiomass. M. anisopliae var. anisopliae biomass pretreated with hydrogen peroxide, gluteraldehyde, commercial laundry detergent,dimethyl sulfoxide and formal dehyde significantly improved biosorption of Pb2+ in comparison with live biomass. Pretreatment with all methods of P. verrucosum increased biosorption of Pb2+ in comparison with live biomass. The maximum biosorption capacity of A. versicolor biomass subjected to dimethyl sulfoxide was 30.6 mg g-1.