BIOSORPTION OF HEAVY METAL CHROMIUM BY LIVE AND DEAD FUNGI ISOLATED FROM LEATHER TANNERY

Hexavalent chromium Cr (VI) is one of the most common environmental metal containment released primarily from industries such as leather tanning, metal plating, alloying, wood preservation and electroplating. Chromium (VI) is known to be highly toxic, mutagenic & carcinogenic to living organisms including mammals. Biosorption is potentially cost effective way to remove toxic heavy metals from industrial waste waters. The present study was planned to evaluate the heavy metals uptake potential of newly isolated white rot fungi from metals contaminated leather tannery sites. Two white rot fungi viz., Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus stolinifer were selected for biosorption of Cr(VI) study. Chromium resistance was tested at different concentration.. Biosorption efficiency was estimated by live and dead fungal mass. Dead immobilized white rot fungi had the effect of biosorbents dose on metal biosorption. The cost effective potential biosorbent can be developed by these two fungal species for removing chromium from industrial effluents as well. Key words: Biosorption, Chromium (VI), Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus stolinifer, Diphenyl carbazid