Development of a fungal consortium for the biosorption of cadmium from paddy rice field water in a bioreactor

Abstract

The largest contributor to cadmium (Cd) pollution of agricultural fields is the use of high-phosphate fertilizers. Conventional techniques for the removal of metal ions from wastewater has several limitations and, therefore, a novel technique is required. Biosorption is the removal of metals and related elements or compounds from a solution by biological materials. Numerous types of biomass have been researched for their uptake capacity, with fungal biomass appearing to be the most promising candidate. In this study, the potential of three fungi, i.e. Gliocladium viride AI003, Mucor sp. HI33 and Aspergillus niger AH09, as a compatible/incompatible consortium for the biosorption of cadmium from paddy water was evaluated. Seven different combinations were investigated as possible consortia. Maximum biosorption was found for the consortium of 48-h-old Mucor sp. HI33+72-h-old Gliocladium viride AI003+72-hold Aspergillus niger AH09. This consortium showed the maximum percentage removal of Cd (99.98%) after 8 days of incubation and significantly reduced the biological oxygen demand (85.76%). © Springer-Verlag and the University of Milan 2011.