Highly efficient bio-sorption of trivalent f-elements using wild type Rhizopus arrhizus dead fungus

Wild type Rhizopus arrhizus biomass was demonstrated as highly efficient bio-sorbent for trivalent f-elements. Both Am3+ and Eu3+ were found to follow the Fruendlich isotherm through chemi-sorption. The sorption for Am3+ was found be faster compared to Eu3+ while both proceeded via pseudo-second order reaction. EDTA was found to be effective strippant whereas up to 500 kGy, the bio-sorbent showed high radiolytic stability. Luminescence employed for probing the local environment of metal ion on sorption which revealed the presence of single adsorbed species with no inner sphere water molecules. The covalency of metal–ligand bond enhanced on complexation with the bio-sorbent.