Biosorption of copper by immobilized biomass of Aspergillus australensis. Effect of metal on the viability, cellular components, polyhydroxyalkanoates production, and oxidative stress

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2020-08, Vol.27 (23), p.28545-28560
• Main Authors: Contreras-Cortés, Ana Gabriela, Almendariz-Tapia, Francisco Javier, Cortez-Rocha, Mario Onofre, Burgos-Hernández, Armando, Rosas-Burgos, Ema Carina, Rodríguez-Félix, Francisco, Gómez-Álvarez, Agustín, Quevedo-López, Manuel Ángel, Plascencia-Jatomea, Maribel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Advances in Environmental Biotechnology and Engineering 2018; Anthropogenic factors; Aquatic Pollution; Aspergillus; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Biomass; Biosorption; Cellular manufacture; Copper; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecosystem assessment; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental science; Fluorescence; Fungi; Heavy metals; Metallurgy; Oxidative stress; pH effects; Pollutants; Polyhydroxyalkanoates; Sludge; Tanning; Waste Water Technology; Wastewater; Water Management; Water pollution; Water Pollution Control
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-07747-y

Heavy metals are toxic especially when they are introduced into the environment due to anthropogenic activities such as metallurgy, mining, and tanning. Removing these pollutants has become a worldwide concern since they cannot be degraded into nontoxic forms causing extended effects in the ecosystems. The use of an Aspergillus australensis was evaluated in order to remove Cu 2+ from simulated wastewater. The fungus was isolated from river sludges contaminated with heavy metals and was first evaluated for the determination of Cu 2+ tolerance levels. Microscopic fluorescence analysis was carried out to determine the effect of Cu 2+ presence on the viability, cellular components, polyhydroxyalkanoates production, and oxidative stress of the fungus, as a response to the stress caused by exposure to metal. In order to achieve copper removal, the A. australensis biomass was produced using batch cultures, and the mycelium was immobilized on a textile media in order to compare the copper-removal efficiency of live or dead biomass. The optimal values of pH and temperature for biomass production were established by using a surface response analysis. Live immobilized biomass was capable of removing Cu 2+ from 1.54 ± 0.19 to 2.66 ± 0.26 mg of copper/ g of dry biomass, while values of 1.93 ± 0.03 to 2.36 ± 0.29 mg of copper/g of dry biomass were observed when dead biomass was used. As was expected, copper removal using biomass varied depending on the pH and temperature used.