Biosorption of mercury (II) from aqueous solution onto biomass of Aspergillus niger [Bioadsorción de mercurio (II) en solución acuosa por la biomasa de Aspergillus niger]

Mercury (II) removal capacity in aqueous solution by Aspergillus niger biomass was analyzed by the atomic absorption spectrometry method. The fungus grew in 2000 ppm of the metal (20.3%25). Biosorption was evaluated at different pH (3.5, 4.5, and 5.5) at different times. In addition, the effect of temperature in the range of 28°C to 45oC and removal at different initial concentrations of Hg (II) from 100 to 500 mg/L were also studied. The highest biosorption (83.2%25 with 100 mg/L of the metal, and 1 g of biomass) was 24 h at pH of 5.5 and 28oC. With regard to temperature, the highest removal was to 28oC, with an 83.2%25 removal at 24 h, and at higher biomass concentrations, the removal was most efficient (100%25 in 12 h with 5 g of biomass). Fungal biomass showed good removal capacity of the metal in situ, 69%25 removal in contaminated water, after 7 days of incubation and 5 g of biomass (100 mL water), so it can be used to remove industrial wastewater. © 2018 Universidad Autonoma de Tlaxcala. All rights reserved.

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