Bioremediation potential of novel fungal species isolated from wastewater for the removal of lead from liquid medium

Abstract Present study investigates the isolation, identification and characterization of lead (Pb) resistant fungi isolated from sewage, sludge and industrial effluents. Total 24 fungi strains were isolated from wastewater samples in potato dextrose agar plates supplemented with various Pb concentrations of 100 to 1000 ppm. The isolated fungi presented the excellent resistant to Pb in primary and secondary screening. By analysing the 18 S rRNA sequencing, out of 24 strains, two strains of fungi named K1SF-Pb-15 and SEF-b were identified as Talaromyces islandicus and Aspergillus terreus, respectively which were shown good resistant to Pb metal ions. Correlation coefficients of Pb biosorption by T. islandicus and A. terreus were found to be greater for Langmuir isotherm as compared to Freundlich isotherm. Treated and untreated biosorbent were characterized by FTIR spectral analysis and SEM micrograph to study the nature of the biosorbent both prior to and after the removal of Pb ions. Fungus Talaromyces islandicus is not reported previously as a potential bioadsorbent for the removal of Pb ions. Hence the metal tolerance trait and removal efficiency of this fungi can be exploited in remediation of heavy metal from environment.