Fusarium culmorum biosorption of Ni and Cd from e-waste: a comparative study

The exponential growth in the manufacturing of electronic gadgets and with their intended lifespan, a large amount of electronic waste (e-waste) are produced. E-waste mainly consists of polymers, heavy metals, azo dyes, and xenobiotics that are non-biodegradable or less degradable. As a result, they increase environmental toxicity, which affects agricultural growth and causes health problems for humans and other organisms. Microbes uptake e-waste by bioleaching, biosorption, and bioaccumulation. Microorganisms produce enzymes such as reductases, laccases, esterases, carboxylesterases, catalases, and dioxygenases for bioconversion to different compounds. This study focuses on bioadsorption of nickel and cadmium from spent batteries using Fusarium culmorum. Heavy metal analysis had been carried out using atomic absorption spectroscopy and isotherm studies using the Langmuir and the Freundlich methods. Analytical techniques were used to find the changes before and after bioadsorption. The efficiency of Fusarium culmorum on bioleaching of metals from spent battery powder was studied. The study showed the fungus has the capability to uptake metals present in e-waste from aqueous solution.