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Depletion of Cr(VI) from Aqueous Solution by Heat Dried Biomass of a Newly Isolated Fungus Arthrinium malaysianum: A Mechanistic Approach

Summary

This research demonstrates how a newly discovered fungus can be used to clean up toxic chromium pollution from industrial wastewater. The dried fungal biomass acts like a sponge to absorb harmful hexavalent chromium and convert it into a less toxic form. This natural and cost-effective solution could help address industrial water pollution problems. Impacts on everyday life: • Provides a sustainable way to treat contaminated industrial wastewater • Helps protect drinking water sources from toxic metal pollution • Offers an environmentally-friendly alternative to harsh chemical treatments • Could reduce water treatment costs for industries and municipalities • Demonstrates nature-based solutions for environmental problems

Background

The rapid increase in industrialization has led to the release of various heavy metals like chromium, lead, and arsenic as waste directly into water bodies, making them unfit for human consumption. Chromium pollution occurs predominantly from tannery industries, with hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] linked to neurotoxicity, genotoxicity, carcinogenicity and immunotoxicity. Conventional metal removal methods are inefficient due to high operational costs and risk of secondary pollutants.

Objective

To evaluate the potential of heat dried biomass from newly isolated fungus Arthrinium malaysianum for removing toxic hexavalent chromium from aqueous solutions and industrial effluents, while investigating the detailed mechanisms of metal binding and reduction.

Results

The maximum predicted biosorption capacity was 100.69 mg/g of biomass. The process followed pseudo-second order kinetics and Redlich-Peterson isotherm model. Film-diffusion was the rate-controlling step and adsorption was spontaneous, endothermic and entropy-driven. XPS studies confirmed significant reduction of toxic Cr(VI) to non-toxic Cr(III) species. The biomass could also remove chromium from industrial effluents with ~70% removal efficiency at pH 3.0.

Conclusion

The heat dried biomass of A. malaysianum demonstrated efficient removal of hexavalent chromium through multiple mechanisms including physisorption, chemisorption, oxidation-reduction and chelation. The biomass could effectively reduce toxic Cr(VI) to non-toxic Cr(III) and showed potential for removing other heavy metals like arsenic and lead. The findings suggest this fungal biomass as a promising biosorbent for toxic metal removal from industrial effluents.
  • Published in:Scientific Reports,
  • Study Type:Laboratory Research,
  • Source: 10.1038/s41598-017-10160-0
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