Dead biomass of thermophilic Aspergillus fumigatus for Congo red biosorption

Abstract

Decolorization of congo red with growing and dead biomass of thermophilic Aspergillus fumigatus was studied. The biosorption percent by dead biomass increases with increasing pH up to 6 at dye initial concentration 10,60 and 70 mg/100ml , and up to pH7 at dye initial concentration 20,30,40,50 and 60 mg/100ml. The mount of congo red biosorbed onto dead biomass increases with increasing temperature from 10 to 30°C then decreases at 40 °C and sharply at 50°C. Increase in dead biomass concentration above 0.8 (g/100ml) did not effective in biosorption of congo red. Maximum decolourization was observed at 180min of contact time. The study concluded that dead fungal biomass possesses various advantages such as absence of nutrient needs, therefore the findings offer potential for the development of a cost effective for biosorption of congo red.