Tolerance and biosorption capacity of Zn2+, Pb2+, Ni3+ and Cu2+ by filamentous fungi (Trichoderma harzianum, T. aureoviride and T. virens)

Heavy metal pollution has become a serious environmental issue in the last few decades. There is a need to develop potential technology that can remove toxic heavy metals ions found in polluted environments. This study was undertaken to determine the resistance levels of different concentrations of heavy metals using filamentous fungi of Trichoderma aureoviride, T. harzianum, and T. virens. Based on the results, the T. virens strain T128 gave the highest tolerance ability for Ni3+ and Pb2+ in a 1200 mg/L concentration. The accumulation and uptake capacity was determined by the maximum removal of Pb2+, Cu2+, and Ni3+ by a T. harzianum in liquid medium when compared to other fungi. The metal removal occurred at a concentration of 500 mg/L and was 13.48 g/g for Pb2+, 3.1254 g/g for Cu2+ and 0.8351 g/g for Ni3+. For Zn2+, the highest tolerance and uptake capacity of metal was recorded at 3.1789 g/g by T. virens.