REMOVAL OF CU 2+ IONS BY IMMOBILIZED A. LENTULUS FUNGAL STRAIN FROM INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER SHIPRA JHA, S.N DIKSHIT & G PANDEY Department of Chemistry, Government Model Science College, Jiwaji University, Gwalior, M.P, India ABSTRACT In spite of applying very strict regulation for the treatment of industrial waste water because of life threatening level of the heavy metal accumulation in the aquatic life which is transferred to human bodies through food chain. For this purpose there was development of new technology in which A.lentulus strain immobilized with biopolymeric bead of alginate and gelatin was prepared and characterized by Dispersion microscope .Uptake of metal was very fast initially and equilibrium was attained within 240 min. Sorption data conformed well to Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm model. Highest Cu (II) by selected biomass (4.0 g/l, dry wt).immobilized in sodium alginate and gelatin occurred at 35 ºC, 180 rpm when initial copper concentration was 100 mg/l. KEYWORDS: Biosorption, Metal Removal, Gelatin & Alginate Bead, A. Lentulus INTRODUCTION Over the past several years, the increasing contamination in various in various environmental segments due to unscrupulous discharge of trace metals from several sources is a matter of serious concern (Zuane.J.L, 1999, Bai R. S, 2003).Environmental significance of trace metals is assessed in terms of toxicity as well as the extent of their exploitations, application and consequent mobilizations into the air, water and land. These trace metals are called heavy metals providing connotation of toxicity. Various heavy metals such as cadmium, zinc, lead, copper iron, nickel and cobalt enter the environment through industrial wastes, mill tailings and landfill run off (Zuane.J.L1996, Aksu.Z, 2005, Aksu.Z, 1998). Exposure of heavy metal contamination has been found to cause kidney damage, liver damage and anemia in low doses, and in high concentrations, they can be carcinogenic and teratogenic if not fatal (Vole sky B, 1990, Lin.S, 2000, Parab.H 2006). The environmental Protection Agency has regulated industrial waste disposal; however, when industrial waste discharge exceed the regulated disposal amounts, many industries respond by diluting the hazardous substances are released into the environment, they naturally concentrate in wetlands and soils. The natural process of transportation of metal ions between the soil and water consolidate heavy metal contamination in high concentrations that affect the natural ecosystem (Gale. N.L,1979).Because of increasing environmental concern regarding heavy metal contaminations, there has been an abundance of interest in the removal of heavy metal ions from contaminated soils and waste streams(Nakajima.A, 1982, Darnell. D.W, 1986, Christs R.H 1986). Although cleanup is necessary to prevent any further discharge of contaminated wastes into the environment, a technology needs to be developed that is cost- effective for industry to use. As a cost – effective alternative method, the biosorption has been emerged as an economic method both for the metal removal as well as metal preconcentration for analysis. Biosorption uses biomass raw materials which are either abundant fungi or algae or waste from industrial operations. (McHale A.P 1994,Volesky.B. 1995, Trujillo.E.M, 1995). Biosorption is a property of certain type of inactive, dead, microbial biomass to bind and concentrate heavy metals from even very dilute aqueous solution. International Journal of Chemical & Petrochemical Technology (IJCPT) ISSN 2277-4807 Vol.3, Issue 1, Mar 2013, 1-8 © TJPRC Pvt. Ltd.