African Journal of
Biotechnology

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Biotechnol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1684-5315
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJB
  • Start Year: 2002
  • Published Articles: 12487

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of pretreatment on Cd2+ biosorption by mycelial biomass of Pleurotus florida

Das, N.*, Charumathi,  D. and Vimala, R.
School of Biotechnology, Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, VIT University, Vellore- 632014, Tamil Nadu, India.
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 18 October 2007
  •  Published: 19 November 2007

Abstract

The effect of pretreatment on the Cd2+ biosorption capacity of mycelial biomass ofPleurotus florida was investigated. For this purpose, the biomass was subjected to physical treatments such as heat, autoclaving and freeze drying and chemical treatments using acids, alkali and organic solvents. All the pretreatment methods improved the biosorption of Cd2+ in comparison with live biomass of P. florida. Among physical treatments, freeze drying showed significant improvement in Cd2+ sorption capacity. Pretreatment of biomass with NaOH showed maximum cadmium biosorption followed by formaldehyde and methanol treatment.

 

Key words: Pleurotus, pretreatment, biomass, biosorption, cadmium.