A lignolytic white
-
rot fungus,
Ganoderma
lucidum
was used to remove Ni(II) from a single and multiple metal system.
The removal of Ni(II) found to occur in two stages: a rapid surface adsorption, within the 60min, and a slow intracellular di
ffusion
till the equilibrium achieved. In first few min
utes of contact a sharp decrease in solution pH was noted which was found parallel to
the fast metal uptake, probably because of the protons released by the immobilized
Ganoderma lucidum
living cells. At sorption
equilibrium solution pH also reached at an
equilibrium level. Ni(II) remediation capacity of immobilized
Ganoderma lucidum
biomass increased as the initial metal concentrations (Ci) increased up to 800 mg/L, independent of initial pH (pHi) and gene
rally
the metal with higher Ci had a higher uptake
capacity. The results also show that some portion of the metal ions sorbed by
immobilized
Ganoderma lucidum
biomass was readily released to solution with a decrease in pH. At equilibrium, the maximum
total Ni(II) uptake of immobilized
Ganoderma lucidum
bio
mass was 504.92 mg/g and was reached at pHi 5 and initial Ni(II)
concentration of 800mg/L. Due to presence of larger number of competing ions in wastewater sorption equilibrium was reached i
n
short time. Sulphuric acid (0.1 M) was found to be the better de
sorbing agent in comparison to other reagents