Biosorption of Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ by Rhodotorula sp. Kt, a Yeast Isolated from Acid Mine Drainage.

ABSTRACT: Acid mine drainages (AMDs) enriched with toxic metals pose a significant environmental risk. Microbial bioremediation offers a sustainable and cost-effective approach for metal removal from AMD. In this study, a wild yeast isolated from the Kavart abandoned mine, identified as Rhodotorula sp., was evaluated for its copper (Cu²⁺) and zinc (Zn²⁺) biosorption ability. Biosorption was strongly pH-dependent. Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ removal was most efficient (48.1% or 10.07 mg/g and 35.7% or 6.07 mg/g, respectively) at pH 6. Increasing the biomass to 3 g/L at the same pH enhanced Cu²⁺ removal to 71.5% (26 mg/g). Biosorption kinetic analysis showed an excellent fit to the pseudo-second-order model (R² > 0.99), indicating that the mec

SUBMITTER: Barseghyan S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12843149 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature