The mechanism of cadmium removal from aqueous solution using non-metabolizing free cell of Aspergillus flavus 44-1

Abstract

Feasibility of using biomass of Aspergillus flavus 44-1 to remove cadmium from solution was studied. Conventional chemical and physical methods to remove heavy metals are often found to be too expensive and inefficient. The use of biological treatment systems involving microorganisms to remove heavy metals is of industrial interest. Results obtained from Langmuir Adsorption Isotherm Model implies that the process was a chemical, equilibrated and saturable mechanism. A non-linear curve Scatchard plot reflected that multiple and heterogeneous binding sites involved in the process. Experimental results also showed that maximum cadmium uptake was obtained at pH 2 and temperature 30°C. Maximum cadmium uptake was 101.5 mg/g at the initial cadmium concentration of 268.0 mg/L. Result obtained from this study also showed that a small amount of biomass, 0.20 g was sufficient to remove maximum Cd2+ from 100 mL initial cadmium solution.