Influential lead uptake using dried and inactivated-fungal biomass obtained from Panaeolus papilionaceus: biological activity, equilibrium, and mechanism

In this study, the use of fungal (Panaeolus papilionaceus) biomass as a biosorbent was investigated to effectively remove Pb²⁺ ions from aquatic medium. The removal of Pb²⁺ ions using a fungal biosorbent was examined in a batch system in terms of initial solution pH, temperature, time, and initial Pb²⁺ concentration. Optimal operating conditions for biosorption of Pb²⁺ ions; pH: 4.5, T: 25 °C, and t: 24 h. The max biosorption capacity for Pb²⁺ ions was found to be 31.2 mg g⁻¹ from the Langmuir model. Thermodynamic studies showed that Pb²⁺ ions biosorption into fungal biomass was possible, spontaneous, and endothermic. Additionally, the antimicrobial activity and antibiofilm activity of the extract of fungus were also investigated. It was determined that the fungal extract did not have antimicrobial properties. On the other hand, the extract has been shown to have the potential to prevent biofilm formation. 1 mg of the extract prevented the biofilm formation of Staphylococcus aureus by 87.85%. It has been observed that the biosorption mechanism of Pb²⁺ ions into fungal biomass includes the steps of surface biosorption, film diffusion, and intra-particle diffusion.