ABSTRACT
The fact that fungi are able to accumulate heavy metals into their biomass provides them with a potential role in biodegradation. All the factors outlined above regarding the impact of heavy metals on fungi and fungi on heavy metals to be taken into account when considering the potential role of fungi in the bioremediation of contaminated soil (Skladany and Metting, 1992). In the relative confines of industrial processes, however, the biosorptive properties of both live and dead fungal mycelium can be put into effect in the same way that ion exchange resins can be used for the cleanup of effluent solutions (Tobin et al., 1984; Singleton and Tobin, 1996). Biosorption of metals by fungi relies on the ion exchange between the metal and reactive groups of the cell wall. Some examples of the degree of metal binding by a range of microfungi and yeasts suitable for industrial metal retrieval from effluent are given in Table 6.4. The interaction between live fungal biomass and the relative availability of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, however, may be of importance in influencing the solubility of heavy metals in the environment (DixonHardy et al., 1998), showing that the role of fungi in metal binding is greatly influenced by environmental conditions.
