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Heavy Metal Remediation by Dry Mycelium Membranes: Approaches to Sustainable Lead Remediation in Water

Summary

This research shows that dried mushroom root networks (mycelium) can effectively remove toxic lead from contaminated water, making it a natural and sustainable alternative to expensive chemical treatments. When enhanced with phosphate treatment, mycelium can remove over 95% of lead even at high concentrations. The mycelium membranes work well in continuous water filtration systems while being biodegradable and environmentally friendly, offering promising solutions for households and communities dealing with lead-contaminated drinking water.

Background

Lead contamination poses significant health risks, particularly in children, due to historical use in paints, gasoline, and water pipelines. Traditional remediation methods are expensive and often cause secondary contamination. Mycelium, the root network of mushrooms, has been identified as a promising biosorbent for heavy metal remediation.

Objective

This study explores the efficacy of dried mycelium membranes for lead Pb(II) remediation in water through sorption and mineralization mechanisms. The research aims to understand remediation mechanisms at molecular scales and leverage retained protein functionality to enhance removal efficiency, with particular focus on cross-flow filtration applications.

Results

Dried mycelium achieved >95% Pb(II) removal for concentrations below 1000 ppm and ~63% above 1500 ppm through electrostatic interactions. Phosphate-functionalized mycelium enhanced removal efficiency to >95% at 1500 ppm through mineralization, forming pH-dependent lead crystals (pyromorphite, lead phosphate). Cross-flow filtration demonstrated 85-90% remediation efficiency at highest Pb(II) concentrations with flux of 1200 LMH.

Conclusion

Dried mycelium membranes provide a viable, environmentally sustainable alternative to synthetic membranes for heavy metal remediation. Phosphate functionalization significantly enhances removal efficiency through biomineralization pathways. These biodegradable, mechanically reliable membranes show comparable or superior performance to existing microporous membranes for Pb(II) removal in continuous-flow water treatment applications.
  • Published in:Langmuir,
  • Study Type:Experimental Research,
  • Source: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c03811; PMID: 38483835
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