Bioremediation of Heavy Metals by using Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans
Muzhda Qasim Qader, Yahya Ahmed Shekha
Abstract
Bioremediation is a branch of biotechnology that employs the use of living organisms, like microalgae and fungi, in the removal of contaminants, pollutants, and toxins from soil, water, and other environments. The study was design to know and evaluate the efficiency of fungi to remediate two types of heavy metals (Pb and Cd), by using different concentrations (5, 15, 35, and 50ppm). Results revealed that the lowest applied dose (5ppm) of both tested heavy metals had the highest reduction percent by using two fungal stains Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans were remove lead by 85.6 and 84.2%, while for cadmium were 80 and 78.4% respectively. Statistically significant differences (P≤0.05) were observed between control and the treatments for both tested heavy metals. Highest heavy metals removal was found at the end of experiment (20 days).