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Isolating and Identifying One Strain with Lead-Tolerant Fungus and Preliminary Study on Its Capability of Biosorption to Pb2+

Summary

Scientists discovered a fungal strain called Sarocladium that can effectively absorb lead from contaminated soil and water. This strain works best under specific conditions (25°C temperature and neutral pH) and can remove up to 37.75% of lead ions from highly contaminated solutions. The fungus captures lead through various chemical compounds on its cell surface, showing great promise as an inexpensive and environmentally friendly solution for cleaning up lead-polluted environments.

Background

Heavy metal pollution, particularly lead contamination, is a significant environmental and health concern. Conventional remediation methods are costly and generate secondary contaminants. Microorganisms, especially fungi, show promise as cost-effective bioremediators due to their strong adsorption capacity for heavy metals.

Objective

To isolate and identify a lead-resistant fungal strain from heavy metal-contaminated soil and characterize its biosorption capacity for Pb2+ ions under various conditions.

Results

Strain Pb-9 was identified as Sarocladium (GenBank No. MK372219) with optimal growth at 25°C, pH 7, and 96 hours incubation. Maximum Pb2+ adsorption rate of 37.75% was achieved at 2000 mg/L lead concentration. SEM showed spore deformation under Pb2+ stress, XRD confirmed Pb element accumulation in mycelium, and FTIR indicated involvement of polysaccharides, esters, and protein functional groups in biosorption.

Conclusion

Strain Pb-9 demonstrates excellent lead tolerance and biosorption capacity, making it a promising candidate for bioremediation of lead-contaminated environments. The study reveals that multiple functional groups on the fungal cell surface contribute to Pb2+ adsorption, providing foundational knowledge for developing this strain as a dominant agent in environmental remediation.
  • Published in:Biology (Basel),
  • Study Type:Experimental/Laboratory Study,
  • Source: PMID: 39765720, PMCID: PMC11673712, DOI: 10.3390/biology13121053
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