Propagation of Rhizopus javanicus Biosorbent.

After propagation of Rhizopus javanicus in defined media containing glucose, urea, and mineral salts in deionized distilled water, the ability of the nonliving biomass to sequester cupric ion was assayed. Growth, uptake capacity (saturation uptake at >1 mM Cu concentration in solution), and biosorptive yield (biomass concentration x uptake capacity) were increased by augmentation of the growth medium with mineral salts once growth was under way. In the stationary phase, the uptake capacity of mycelia, which were normally a poor biosorbent, was improved within 4 h of trace metal addition to the growth medium. Growth of the culture was inhibited by excessive concentrations (0.04 to 40 muM) of metals in the medium in the following order: Cu > Co >/= Ni > Mn > Mo; zinc was not inhibitory at 40 muM, and chromium was stimulatory at 0.53 muM but slightly inhibitory at higher levels. Iron and potassium phosphate stimulated growth at levels of 0.53 and 40 mM, respectively. When R. javanicus was propagated in a medium with a high salt concentration, exponential growth (0.23 h) to a biomass concentration of >3 g/liter and a biosorptive yield of >500 mumol/liter was achieved. It is evident that the powerful biosorbent characteristics of Rhizopus biomass led to depletion of available trace minerals in suspension culture, which in turn limited growth.