abstract

• The main source of contamination to the environment by mercury occurs when it is discharged into the water or soil by industries, and it can be converted by microorganisms present in the environment into a more toxic organic compound, which is rapidly absorbed by different aquatic organisms, and through the food chain, it can accumulate in different living beings and environments. The heavy metal mercury compounds can be harmful for living organisms, accumulating in the kidneys and brain, causing damage to the nervous system. Because it accumulates in the body, high levels of exposure to this metal cause severe health problems. Here, we analyzed the biosorption of mercury by ten fungal biomasses isolated from a place with a high flow of heavy-duty vehicles. The fungal biomasses more efficient in the removal of the metal were: Purpureocillium lilacinum, Mucor sp., Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium sp., and Aspergillus terreus, with removal percentages of 100%25, 100%25, 100%25, 97%25, and 93%25, respectively, at a pH of 5.5, 28 °C, and 24 h of incubation, and under the analyzed conditions. The use of different natural biomasses can be a great alternative to try to eliminate the different pollutants produced by different human and industrial activities. Too, we studied the optimal conditions of removal of this metal by P. lilacinum.

authors

• Cárdenas González Juan Fernando

publication date

• 2023-01-01

published in

• Mercury toxicity. Challenges and solutions  Book

keywords

• Biosorption, Contamination, Fungal Biomasses, Mercury

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

• 10.1007/978-981-99-7719-2_14

PubMed ID

start page

• 357

end page

• 374

volume

issue