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The use of free and immobilized Cunninghamella elegans for removing cobalt ions from aqueous waste solutions

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Abstract

This paper discusses the possible application to use free and immobilized Cunninghamella elegans for the removal of cobalt from aqueous waste solutions. Results indicated that the maximum uptake occurred at; pH 4.0–5.5 ± 0.2, temperature range between 15 and 50°C and stirring rate 250 rpm. The uptake increased with the increase of metal ion concentration up to 40 ppm. Also, it was found that the best biomass weights used for biosorption were 0.25 and 0.5 g for both free and immobilized biomass. The reuse of control alginate beads, alive and dead immobilized Cunninghamella elegans beads was investigated for five cycles. Results showed that the percent uptake decreased slightly after the first cycle. While, in the case of alginate beads there was increase in the second cycle then returned to the same level of uptake. The uptake of cobalt in the presence of Cr(VI) and Cd(II) at different mixture concentrations 40, 50 and 60 ppm was investigated. The results showed that the uptake amount of Co(II) in the presence of other metal ions was lower than Co(II) alone except for Ca-alginate beads. SEM studies for control alginate beads, alive and dead immobilized Cunninghamella elegans beads were conducted to investigate the beads before and after the accumulation of cobalt ions.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the Director of the Academy of Scientific Research & Technology of Egypt for providing the M.Sc. fellowship to the student M.S. Mahmoud, and the Head of Hot Lab Center for the financial assistance. Thanks also extended to the Director and Staff of the Regional Center for Mycology and Biotechnology—Al-Azhar University.

Conflict interest

The financial supply for this research was provide by the Hot Lab and Waste Management facility—Atomic Energy Authority of Egypt.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hot Laboratories and Waste Management Center, Atomic Energy Authority, P.O. Box 13759, Abou-Zaable, Cairo, Egypt

    A. S. Abdel-Razek, S. A. Mahmoud & M. S. Mahmoud

  2. Department of Botany & Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt

    T. M. Abdel-Ghany & H. H. El-Sheikh

Authors
  1. A. S. Abdel-Razek
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  2. T. M. Abdel-Ghany
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  3. S. A. Mahmoud
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  4. H. H. El-Sheikh
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  5. M. S. Mahmoud
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Correspondence to A. S. Abdel-Razek.

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Abdel-Razek, A.S., Abdel-Ghany, T.M., Mahmoud, S.A. et al. The use of free and immobilized Cunninghamella elegans for removing cobalt ions from aqueous waste solutions. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 25, 2137–2145 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-009-0118-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-009-0118-z

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