Biosorption of Lead (II) from Aquatic Environment by a Macrofungus (Agaricus bisporus)

Lead, like other heavy metals, is introduced into natural waters by industrial and domestic wastewater discharges causing environmental pollution. Conventional methods are extremely expensive or inefficient for removal of metals from wastewaters containing low concentration of dissolved metals. Biosorption is a process in which sorbents of biological sources are employed for binding heavy metals. It is a promising alternative to treat industrial effluents, mainly because of its low cost and high metal binding capacity. In the present work, lead (II) biosorption process by the fruiting bodies of a macrofungus (Agaricus bisporus) has been studied. The work considered the determination of lead-biomass equilibrium data in batch system. The studies were carried out in order to determine some operational parameters of lead sorption such as the effects of pH, initial metal ion concentration, biomass dosage and time required for the metal biosorbent equilibrium, contact period, etc. All the parameters showed important effect on biosorption rate and capacity.