Equilibrium and Thermodynamic Studies on Biosorption of Malachite Green from Aqueous Solution by Fungal Biomass

Abstract

The biosorption of Malachite Green from aqueous solution was investigated by using pretreated fungal biomass in a batch system. The effects of initial pH, NaCl concentration, initial dye concentration and temperature on dye biosorption were studied. The results showed that the pretreated fungal biomass exhibited higher dye removal at initial pH value of 5.0-6.0. The bosorption capacity was increased with the increasing temperature in studied temperature range. The Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models were applied to experimental equilibrium data and the Langmuir model better described the equilibrium dye uptake than the Freundlich model. Thermodynamic studies revealed that the biosorption process was successful, spontaneous and endothermic in nature.