Biosorption of reactive dyes by the mycelium pellets of a new isolate of Penicillium oxalicum

Abstract

Three reactive dyes were rapidly adsorbed by the mycelium pellets of Penicillium oxalicum. Dye removal of Reactive Blue 19 was up to 60% in 10 min and 91% in 80 min. Dye adsorption isotherms fitted Langmuir model well and the maximum adsorption capacities at 20 °C were calculated to be 160 mg g⁻¹ for Reactive Blue 19, 122 mg g⁻¹ for Reactive Red 241 and 137 mg g⁻¹ for Reactive Yellow 145, respectively. The pellets exhibited a high dye adsorption capacity (80–180 mg g⁻¹) for all of the 3 dyes over a wide pH range (pH 2–10), and the maximum adsorption was obtained at pH 2. The adsorption capacity was mildly increased by increasing salinity.