Abstract
Removal of chromium(VI) from aqueous solution was studied using abundantly available trametes versicolor polyporus fungi as biosorbing medium under equilibrium and column flow conditions. Various sorption parameters such as contact time, effect of pH, concentration of Cr(VI) and amount of biomass on the adsorption capacity of the biosorbent were studied. The equilibrium adsorption data were fitted to Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption isotherm models and the model parameters are evaluated. In addition, the data were used to predict the kinetics of adsorption. The results indicated that the adsorption of Cr(VI) on fungi followed second order kinetics. The column flow adsorption data were used to predict break through curves. The fungi loaded with Cr(VI) was regenerated with 0.1 M NaOH solution and the regenerated biomass was used in the subsequent adsorptiondesorption cycles. The experimental results demonstrated that the trametes versicolor polyporus fungi could be used as sorbent for immobilizing Cr(VI).