A Comparative Study of Cr(VI) Sorption by Aureobasidium pullulans AKW Biomass and Its Extracellular Melanin: Complementary Modeling with Equilibrium Isotherms, Kinetic Studies, and Decision Tree Modeling

Hala Fakhry, Abeer A. Ghoniem, Fatimah O. Al-Otibi, Yosra A. Helmy, Mohammed S. El Hersh, Khaled M. Elattar, Wesam Eldin I.A. Saber, Ashraf Elsayed

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Melanin as a natural polymer is found in all living organisms, and plays an important role in protecting the body from harmful UV rays from the sun. The efficiency of fungal biomass (Aureobasidium pullulans) and its extracellular melanin as Cr(VI) biosorbents was comparatively considered. The efficiency of Cr(VI) biosorption by the two sorbents used was augmented up to 240 min. The maximum sorption capacities were 485.747 (fungus biomass) and 595.974 (melanin) mg/g. The practical data were merely fitted to both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The kinetics of the biosorption process obeyed the pseudo-first-order. Melanin was superior in Cr(VI) sorption than fungal biomass. Furthermore, four independent variables (contact time, initial concentration of Cr(VI), biosorbent dosage, and pH,) were modeled by the two decision trees (DTs). Conversely, to equilibrium isotherms and kinetic studies, DT of fungal biomass had lower errors compared to DT of melanin. Lately, the DTs improved the efficacy of the Cr(VI) removal process, thus introducing complementary and alternative solutions to equilibrium isotherms and kinetic studies. The Cr(VI) biosorption onto the biosorbents was confirmed and elucidated through FTIR, SEM, and EDX investigations. Conclusively, this is the first report study attaining the biosorption of Cr(VI) by biomass of A. pullulans and its extracellular melanin among equilibrium isotherms, kinetic study, and algorithmic decision tree modeling.

Original languageEnglish
Article number3754
JournalPolymers
Volume15
Issue number18
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors extend their appreciation to the Researchers Supporting Project number (RSP2023R114), King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 by the authors.

Keywords

  • artificial intelligence
  • biosorption
  • fungal biomass
  • heavy metals
  • water treatment

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Chemistry (all)
  • Polymers and Plastics

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