Abstract
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•Radionuclides-resistant A. niger is isolated from radionuclide contaminated soils.•A. niger shows simultaneous accumulation of Co(II) and Eu(III) from wastewater.•Maximum sorption capacity of Co(II) on A. niger is 76.4mg/g at pH=6.0.•Maximum sorption capacity of Eu(III) on A. niger is 135mg/g at pH=6.0.•Amide and oxygen groups on A. niger facilitates Co(II) and Eu(III) sorption.
Radionuclides-resistant Aspergillus niger (A. niger) was isolated from radionuclides’ contaminated soils for the bioremediation of radionuclides pollution. Accumulation of 60Co(II) and 152+154Eu(III) by A. niger was investigated with respect to pH, ionic strength, temperature, mycelia content, and initial concentration. The maximum accumulation capacities of Co(II) and Eu(III) on A. niger were 76.4 and 135mg/g at T=297K and pH=6.0, respectively, which were much higher than that on other adsorbents under similar conditions. XPS analysis indicated that accumulation of radionuclides on A. niger was largely attributable to functional groups containing nitrogen and oxygen on fungal mycelia. This study shows that A. niger can be harnessed as bioremediation agents for radionuclides’ contaminated soils.