Biosorption of lead by the immobilised fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium in a packed bed column

Biosorption of lead by immobilised Phanerochaete chrysosporium over two successive cycles of sorption-desorption was investigated in a continuously operated packed bed column. The breakthrough curves in each sorption cycle were measured as a function of different bed depths in the column at an inlet lead concentration of 40 mg/L. The values of various breakthrough parameters obtained in the study indicated good potential of the system in removing lead from constituent wastewaters. Kinetic and mass transfer aspects of lead biosorption in the study were also evaluated by fitting the experimental data to several breakthrough models found in the literature. And, compared to the other models, Clark model showed good predictability of the entire breakthrough data. © 2010 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.