Biosorption of chromium, copper, nickel and zinc ions onto fungal pellets of Aspergillus niger 405 from aqueous solutions

Fungal mycelium pellets of Aspergillus niger 405 were used for adsorption o f different metal ions. The biosorption of Cu2+, Zn2+, Ni2+ and CrO42- was studied over a range of metal ion concentrations, adsorption time, pH and c o-anions,The process of uptake obeyed both the Langmuir and Freundlich isot herms. The results showed better biosorption for the first three metal ions at pH ranging from 4 to 6. On the contrary, pH values from 3 to 7 had no i nfluence on sorption of chromium. Comparison of metal uptake in single and multi-component aqueous solutions of Cu-Zn-Ni-Cr was discussed. Fungus Aspe rgillus niger 405 showed a good affinity for binding of Cu2+, Zn2+ and Ni2 ions in single, while in multi-component solution it occurred only for cop per and zinc.