Biosorption of nickel ions using fungal biomass Penicillium sp. MRF1 for the treatment of nickel electroplating industrial effluent

Biomass of Penicillium sp. MRF1 was evaluated as a biosorbent for the removal of nickel (II) ions from electroplating industrial effluent. The fungal biomass was found to be efficient for the removal of Ni (II) ions. Response surface methodology (RSM) was performed to analyze the single and combined effect of three variables such as concentration of fungal biomass, pH, and contact time to obtain the maximum removal of nickel from electroplating industrial effluent. The rate of Ni (II) ions removal from electroplating industrial effluent was attained after 140 min (74.6%). The optimum biosorption conditions for maximum removal of nickel from an aqueous solution (initial concentration of nickel, 639 mg/L) obtained were as follows: fungal biomass (7.5 g/L), pH (5.5), and contact time (140 min). This was evidenced by the higher value of coefficient of determination (R² = 0.96072) suggested that all three variables have positive effect on the removal of Ni (II) ions. Equilibrium data of adsorption isotherm equilibrium models significantly fit with Freundlich isotherm model. The heterogeneous surface adsorption capacity of the isolated fungus Penicillium sp. for nickel (II) ions was found as 63.6 mg/g. The surface of fungal biomass was characterized by SEM and FT-IR. The biosorption mechanism was ascribed to the presence of functional groups like –OH, C–O, C=O, and N–H. Penicillium sp. MRF1 biomass seems to be quite feasible for the removal of nickel (II) ions from nickel electroplating industrial effluent.