Investigations on Efficacy and Mechanisms of Metalophilic Fungi for Removal of Dyes and Heavy Metals

This thesis explores the potential of metal-tolerant fungi to remove toxic metals and triphenylmethane dyes from aqueous solutions. Five fungal isolates from different uncontaminated and metal-contaminated sources revealed varying tolerance levels, adaptability and removal efficacy for metals. The removal process involved biosorption and bioaccumulation mechanisms. Further investigations on lesser studied Penicillium simplicissimum indicated the removal potential of live and dead fungal cells for metals in single solutions as well as dye-metal mixtures. The optimum conditions for metal uptake were also established. The findings suggest that Penicillium simplicissimum is a promising candidate to treat wastewater containing toxic metals and dyes.