In situ Carica papaya Stem Matrix and Fusarium oxysporum (Ncbt-156) Mediated Bioremediation of Copper

A. Amatussalam¹, R. Babu Rajendran² and M. N. Abubacker³*

¹Department of Chemistry, National College, Tiruchirappalli-620 001, India.

²Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli-620 024, India.

³Department of Botany, National College, Tiruchirappalli-620 001, India.

Corresponding Author E-mail: abubacker_nct@yahoo.com   

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.13005/bbra/1061

ABSTRACT:

Heavy metal contamination due to natural and or anthropogenic sources is a global environmental concern. Removal of heavy metal copper was carried out using the fungus Fusarium oxysporum (NCBT-156) strain in copper sulfate solution with 10 percent Czapek-dox liquid medium. Biosorbent matrix was developed using Carica papaya dried stem to colonize the fungal strain. Fungal mycelium acts as binding sites for copper accumulation at the hyphal tips. Maximum efficiency of copper removal by biosorption upto 90 percent was achieved at the end of 5th day of incubation for 100 and 200 ppm, upto 80 percent for 300 and 400 ppm, and upto 70 percent for 500 ppm concentrations. SDS-PAGE protein profile showed significant difference in 66 KDa protein band after copper absorption by the fungus. FTIR spectroscopic analysis revealed that the main functional groups involved in the uptake of copper by F. oxysporum were carbonyl, carboxyl, amino and hydroxyl groups.

KEYWORDS: Bioabsorption; Bioaccumulation; Bioremediation; Biosorption; copper; Fusarium oxysporum.

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