Evaluation of novel indigenous fungal consortium for enhanced bioremediation of heavy metals from contaminated sites

Heavy metals like chromium (Cr(VI)) and cadmium (Cd(II)) which are supposed to be indigenous components of rocks, are no longer bound to their place of origin thus manifesting significant toxic impacts on living beings. In the present study, the metal tolerance capacity of highly resistant microorganisms was harnessed individually and in the form of consortium, to remediate conundrum of pollution. These fungal strains were isolated from contaminated sites and screened under various processed conditions. Results of secondary screening had evinced more than 70% of removal percentage for Cr(VI) with the fungi Aspergillus flavus (FS4) and Aspergillus fumigatus (FS6), in the liquid medium. Similarly, one Cd (II) tolerant fungal isolate FS9, identified as Aspergillus fumigatus, showed removal up to 74%. The developed microbial consortium had also enhanced the removal of heavy metals in different industrial effluents. The metal acceptance quality that this fungal consortium possess, may specify its ability as an effective biosorbent for the environment contaminated with heavy metals. (C) 2020 Published by Elsevier B.V.