Potential capacity of Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae in the biosorption of Cd2+ and Pb2+.

In this study Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae were used as inexpensive and efficient biosorbents for Pb(II) and Cd(II) from aqueous metal solutions. The effects of various physicochemical factors on Pb(II) and Cd(II) biosorption by B. bassiana and M. anisopliae were studied. The optimum pH for Cd(II) and Pb(II) biosorption by two fungal species was achieved at pH 6.0 for Pb(II) and 5.0 Cd(II) at a constant time of 30 min. The nature of fungal biomass and metal ion interactions was evaluated by Fourier transform infrared. The maximum adsorption capacities (q(max)) calculated from Langmuir isotherms for Pb(II), and Cd(II) uptake by B. bassiana were 83.33±0.85, and 46.27±0.12 mg/g, respectively. However, the q(max) obtained for Pb(II) uptake by M. anisopliae was 66.66±0.28 mg/g, and 44.22±0.13 mg/g for Cd(II). B. bassiana showed higher adsorption capacity compared to M. anisopliae. The data obtained imply the potential role of B. bassiana and M. anisopliae for heavy metal removal from aqueous solutions.