Biosorption potential of Neurospora crassa cells for decolorization of Acid Red 57 (AR57) dye

Biosorption of Acid Red 57 (AR57) on to Neurospora crassa was studied with variation of pH, contact time, biosorbent and dye concentrations and temperature to determine equilibrium and kinetic models. The AR57 biosorption was fast and equilibrium was attained within 40 min. Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) isotherm models were applied to experimental equilibrium data for AR57 biosorption at various temperatures. The equilibrium data fitted very well to all the equilibrium models in the studied concentration range of ARS7. Maximum biosorption capacity (q(max)) of AR57 on to N. crassa was 2.16 x 10(-4) mol g(-1) at 20 degrees C. The kinetics of biosorption of AR57 were analyzed and rate constants were derived. The overall biosorption process was best described by a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The changes in Gibbs free energy, enthalpy and entropy of biosorption were also evaluated for the biosorption of AR57 on to N. crassa. The results indicate that the biosorption was spontaneous and exothermic in nature. (c) 2006 Society of Chemical Industry.