Biosorption of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn from aqueous solutions by the fruiting bodies of jelly fungi (Tremella fuciformis and Auricularia polytricha).

In this study, dried and humid fruiting bodies of Tremella fuciformis and Auricularia polytricha were examined as cost-effective biosorbents in treatment of heavy metals (Cd(2+), Cu(2+), Pb(2+), and Zn(2+)) in aqueous solution. The humid T. fuciformis showed the highest capacity to adsorb the four metals in the multi-metal solutions. The Pb(2+) adsorption rates were 85.5%, 97.8%, 84.8%, and 91.0% by dried T. fuciformis, humid T. fuciformis, dried A. polytricha, and humid A. polytricha, respectively. The adsorption amount of Pb(2+) by dried and humid T. fuciformis in Cd(2+) + Pb(2+), Cu(2+) + Pb(2+), Pb(2+) + Zn(2+), Cd(2+) + Cu(2+) + Pb(2+), and Cd(2+) + Zn(2+) + Pb(2+) solutions were not lower than that in Pb(2+) solutions. The results suggested that in humid T. fuciformis, Cd(2+), Cu(2+), and Zn(2+) promoted the Pb(2+) adsorption by the biomass. In the multi-metal solutions of Cd(2+) + Cu(2+) + Pb(2+) + Zn(2+), the adsorption amount and rates of the metals by all the test biosorbents were in the order of Pb(2+) > Cu(2+) > Zn(2+) > Cd(2+). Compared with the pseudo first-order model, the pseudo second-order model described the adsorption kinetics much better, indicating a two-step biosorption process. The present study confirmed that fruiting bodies of the jelly fungi should be useful for the treatment of wastewater containing Cd(2+), Cu(2+), Pb(2+), and Zn(2+).