Abstract

---

Bioremediation is an alternative green technology for the removal of heavy metals pollution because of their toxicity to the environment and public health. Mangrove is an extreme environment which acts as natural filters of water flowing into the sea, and retain heavy metals and sediments in the roots and soil substrate. The present study aimed to isolate efficient copper tolerant fungi from mangrove soil environment and measure its potentiality for copper removal from aqueous solution. The most tolerant fungal strain was successfully isolated and identified molecularly as Fusarium equiseti KR706303. The isolated fungus was used for biosorption studies using Potato Dextrose broth (PDB) amended with copper ions. The effects of physical parameters on copper (II) ions biosorption were monitored. The results showed that the optimal parameters for the removal of copper ions such as heavy metal concentration and pH were 30 mg L-1, with a maximum Cu(II) adsorption of 8.5mg/g observed at pH 9 and temperature of 30°C during the batch biosorption experiments. The optimal parameters for biomass weight, agitation speed, contact time and biomass age were observed at 0.04 g/L, 150 rpm, 60 min and fifth day; respectively. The observation in this study reveals that the biomass of the isolated F. equiseti KR706303 has the potential to be used as a biosorbent for heavy metal particularly Cu(II) removal from the contaminated sites. The technology is simple, efficient, cost effective and environmental friendly

Keywords: Biosorption, Fungi, Fusarium equiseti, mangrove,copper(II) removal