Response Surface Methodology Based Nickel Bioremoval by Penicillium citrinum Grown in Dilute Acid Pretreated Lignocellulosic Material

Abstract

The present study demonstrates the effectiveness of Ni (II) bioremoval by Penicillium citrinum fungus cultivated in carrot pomace medium. Experimental model for Ni (II) removal was developed using central composite design (CCD) based on response surface methodology (RSM). According to the model, the effects of some key parameters such as pH, initial Ni (II) loading, and initial carrot pomace loading on Ni (II) bioremoval was found as significant (p < 0.05). The highest bioremoval was oberved as 82.01% in the presence of pH 5, 50 mg/L initial Ni (II), and 100 g/L initial biomass loadings, respectively. Results revelaed that the usage of Penicillium citrinum were proven to be effective in removing of Ni (II).