Fungal Biosorption Systems for Heavy Metal Detoxification: A Review of Mechanistic and Applied Perspectives

Abstract

Heavy metal pollution from industrial, agricultural, and urban sources poses a significant environmental and health hazard. Biosorption using fungi offers an eco-friendly, cost-effective, and efficient strategy for heavy metal remediation. This review explores the mechanistic underpinnings of fungal biosorption, including cell wall chemistry and functional group interactions, and highlights the influence of environmental parameters such as pH, temperature, biomass dosage, and contact time. A comprehensive summary of key fungal species (Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus arrhizus, Trichoderma harzianum, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and others) is presented with their biosorptive capacities. Practical applications in pilot and field-scale systems are evaluated, along with immobilization techniques. Limitations such as metal selectivity, biomass stability, and desorption inefficiency are discussed alongside emerging trends involving nanotechnology, genetic engineering, and AI-driven optimization. Fungal biosorption is positioned as a viable, sustainable solution for the mitigation of heavy metal pollution.