Removal of arsenic from aqueous environments by native and chemically modified biomass of Aspergillus niger and Neosartorya fischeri

Arsenic removal from aqueous solutions by biomass of two fungal strains, Aspergillus niger and Neosartorya fischeri, was assessed. The biosorption capacity of fungal biomass was studied within the As(V) concentration range of approximately 0.2 to 5.0 mg L-1 at two different pH values (pH 5 and 7). With increasing initial arsenic concentration, the biosorption capacity of both fungal strains increased almost linearly and achieved the sorption capacity of 0.317 and 0.124 mg g(-1) for biomass of N. fischeri and A. niger, respectively. The effect of biomass treatment with FeCl3 and HCl on As(III) and As(V) uptake was also studied. The optimum biosorption pH as well as the effect of biomass treatment was found to be dependent on the fungal strain used. Treatment with FeCl3 and HCl did not result in any significant increase in arsenic uptake. To the contrary, treatment with ferric oxyhydroxide was found to be very effective and virtually 100% of the arsenic was removed from the samples of contaminated natural water.