Biosorption Potential of the Aspergillus sp. and Insights into Secondary Metabolism in the Presence of Copper and Lead

The fungus Aspergillus sp. was isolated from copper mining rejects and cultured in a liquid culture medium (potato dextrose, PD) enriched with CuSO4.5H2O and Pb(NO3)2 in different concentrations. By flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) it was observed that fungus absorbed 86% of both copper and lead, with initial concentrations of 100, 500 and 1000 mg L-1. The additional results provided by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction showed ability of the microorganism to act as a biosorbent as well as its capacity to transform the tested salts in...