Characterization of dyes biosorption on fungal biomass

The characterization of the dyes adsorption on granular particles of Cunninghamella elegans inactivated biomass is reported. The adsorption process regarded a dye bath for wool and each of the three dyes composing it: Acid Blue 62, Acid Red 266 and Acid Yellow 49. Adsorption isotherms and adsorption kinetics were assessed together with the effect of biomass particle size. The maximum adsorption capacity of lyophilised biomass with respect to Acid Red 266, Acid Blue 62, Acid Yellow 49 and to the model wastewater were 500, 230, 230 and 390 mg(dye)/g(DM), respectively. A mutual interference among adsorbed dyes resulted. The adsorption kinetics for the Acid Blue 62 resulted of the first order type and the first order parameter was 3.6 +/- 1.1 h(-1).