Capability of Aspergillus niger to bioconcentrate cesium-137 and cobalt-60 from medium and low level radioactive waste solution simulates El-Sayyad Hosam Eldin1,*, Eskander Samir Basha2, Bayuomi Talat A.2 1Lecturer, Middle Eastern Regional Radioisotope Centre for the Arab Countries, Al-Ghad International College for Applied Medical Sciences 2Professor, Dept. of Radioisotope, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Egypt *Corresponding Author: Email: helhalby@gc.edu.sa
Online published on 14 January, 2019. Abstract Introduction The bioremediation, as a treatment process for low-and medium radioactive liquid wastes generated from various applications of nuclear technology in our daily life, represents a biotechnological innovation as well as an excellent tool for bioconcentration of radionuclides. Aim study the capability of Aspergillus niger (A. niger) to removal of Cesium-137 (Cs-137) and/or Cobalt-60 (Co-60) from simulated spiked solutions. Materials and Methods This part of experimental work was carried out to evaluate the factors influencing the performance of the fungus and optimizing the bioconcentration of those two radionuclides. The impacts of incubation periods, irradiation of fungus spores prior seeding, age of A. niger and the initial concentrations of the radioactivity added on the bioconcentration factor (CF) for the two radioions were studied on laboratory scale experiments. Results and Discussion Based on the data reached it was found that A. niger can bioconcentrate, from the spiked solution, more than 80% of Co-60 and about 25% of Cs-137 within 48 hours. Conclusion Therefore, Aspergillus niger can be easily grown in substantial manner using unsophisticated techniques, inexpensive growth media. Besides, the acceptable bioconcentration factor achieved by the fungi constituted an economical pattern for treating hazardous effluents spiked with radioactive ions, and it might have a synergetic role during applying other treatment methods. Top Keywords Aspergillus niger, Bioconcentration factor, Co-60, Cs-137. Top |