Role of live autochthonous fungi in removing toxic metals from tannery and textile effluents

Abstract

Decontamination potential of two autochthonous fungi, Aspergillus niger and Fusarium oxysporum, was checked in tannery and textile effluents. The fungi grew well in both industrial effluents, A. niger showing a greater biomass than F. oxysporum in both effluents. A. niger showed less growth with increasing concentration of effluents while F. oxysporum showed increase in growth with increasing effluent concentration, with optimum mycelial biomass in 60% effluent concentration. A greater metal content was absorbed from higher concentration of effluents by both fungi. A significant amount of all metals was absorbed by both fungi, but a greater amount was absorbed from the tannery as compared to textile effluents. A greater reduction of heavy metals was observed in effluents by A. niger. Up to 75% reduction of Zn was caused in tannery effluents and 76% reduction of Cu in textile effluents by A. niger.

Key words: Autochthonous fungi, bioremediation, toxic metals, tannery effluents, textile effluents.