Heavy Metal Bioremediation using Native Fungi Isolated from Tannery Effluent Affected Soil

IJEP 46(7): 625-633 : Vol. 46 Issue 7 (July 2026)

Full Text

Malarkodi K.P.1,2*, Sivaprasad R.1,2 and V. Selvi2

1. PSG College of Arts and Science, Department of Biochemistry, Coimbatore – 641 014, Tamil Nadu, India
2. Kongunadu Arts and Science College, Department of Biochemistry, Coimbatore – 641 029, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

Rapid industrial growth in the leather sector has significantly contributed to environmental pollution, with tannery effluents posing ecological and health risks due to high organic loads and toxic metals. This study aimed to characterize tannery effluent and evaluate native fungi for heavy metal removal. Physico-chemical analysis revealed elevated levels of suspended solids (TSS, 3300 ppm), dissolved solids (TDS, 4411 ppm), settleable solids (SS, 431 mL/L), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD, 1055 ppm) and chemical oxygen demand (COD, 1716 ppm), indicating severe contamination. Heavy metals exceeded permissible limits, including iron (Fe, 98.7 ppm), chromium (Cr, 71.0 ppm) and copper (Cu, 28.9 ppm), while zinc (Zn) was comparatively lower. Major ions, such as calcium (Ca, 89.6 ppm), magnesium (Mg, 38.9 ppm), sodium (Na, 102 ppm) and potassium (K, 242.2 ppm) were elevated and sulphate (SO42-, 102.6 ppm) was well above permissible limits, collectively increasing ionic strength and osmotic pressure, causing salinity stress to soils, plants and microbes. Fungi isolated from effluent-affected soils (Colletotrichum sp., Cladosporium sp. and Aspergillus terreus) survived even in undiluted effluent. Colletotrichum sp. was most effective in removing Cr and Fe; Cladosporium sp. was most effective in removing Cu; and all isolates completely removed Zn (2.1 ppm). These findings highlight the potential of indigenous fungi as effective and sustainable agents for bioremediation of tannery effluents.

Keywords

Bioremediation, Fungi, Tannery effluent, Heavy metals

References

  1. Gaur, V.K., Sharma, P., Sirohi, R., Awasthi, M.K., Dussap, C.G. and Pandey, A. 2020. Assessing the impact of industrial waste on environment and mitigation strategies: A comprehensive review. J. Hazard. Mater., 398(2): 123019. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.123019.
  2. Jain, N. 2023. Water pollution due to industrial waste effluents and their management. Int. J. Multidisc. Res., 5(1): 1-2.
  3. CLE. 2021. Indian leather industry – Overview, export performance and prospects 2021-22. Council for Leather Exports, Chennai, India.
  4. Ranjan, S., Singh, D. and Kumar, S. 2022. Analysis of landfill leachate and contaminated groundwater: a review. Proceedings of Indian geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering conference (IGGEC 2021) (vol 2). Ed Agnihotri, A.K., Reddy, K.R. and Chore, H.S. Springer, Singapore. 281: 55–62. DOI: 10.1007/978-981-19-4731-5_5.
  5. Pastapure, V., Singh, D. and Kumar, S. 2022. Effects of open dumping of municipal solid waste on surrounding soil characteristics: A review. Proceedings of Indian geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering conference (IGGEC 2021) (vol. 2). Ed Agnihotri, A.K., Reddy, K.R. and Chore, H.S. Springer, Singapore. 281: 47– 54. DOI: 10.1007/978-981-19-4731-5_4.
  6. Tamersit, S. and Bouhidel, K.E. 2020. Treatment of tannery unhairing wastewater using carbon dioxide and zinc cations for greenhouse gas capture, pollution removal and water recycling. J. Water Process Eng., 34: 101120. DOI: 10.1016/j.jwpe.20 19.101120.
  7. Chemlal, F., Sabrina, T., Chahrazad, A. and Kamel-Eddine, B. 2025. Removal of sulphide from real unhairing tannery wastewater by a sequential chemical precipitation-oxidation leaching process. Global Nest J., 27(5): 1–7. DOI: 10.30955/gnj.06993.
  8. Iloms, E., Ololade, O.O., Ogola, H.J.O. and Selvarajan, R. 2020. Investigating industrial effluent impact on municipal wastewater treatment plant in Vaal, South Africa. Int. J. Env. Res. Public Health. 17(3): 1096. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17031096.
  9. Fouda, A., Hassan, S.E.D., Abdel-Rahman, M.A., Farag, M.M.S., Shehal-deen, A., Mohamed, A.A., Alsharif, S.M., Saied, E., Moghanim, S.A. and Azab, M.S. 2021. Catalytic degradation of wastewater from the textile and tannery industries by green synthesized hematite (a-Fe2O3) and magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles. Curr. Res. Biotech., 3: 29–41. DOI: 10.1016/j.crbiot. 2021.01.004.
  10. Omer, S. N. and Shanmugam, V. 2025. Exploring tannery effluent bacteria for bioremediation and plant growth promotion: Isolating and characterizing bacterial strain for environmental clean-up. J. Taiwan Inst. Chem. Eng., 2025: 105362. DOI: 10.1016/j.jtice.2024.105362.
  11. Saad, M.M., Saad, A.M., Hassan, H.M., Ibrahim, E.I., Hassabo, A.A. and Ali, B.A. 2024. Bioremoval of tannins and heavy metals using immobilized tannase and biomass of Aspergillus glaucus. Microbial Cell Fact., 23: 209. DOI: 10.1186/s12934-024-02477-z.
  12. Aslam, A., Kanwal, F., Javied, S., Nisar, N. and Torriero, A.A.J. 2025. Microbial biosorption: A sustainable approach for metal removal and environmental remediation. Int. J. Env. Sci. Tech., 22: 13245. DOI: 10.1007/s13762-025-06611-1.
  13. APHA. 1992. Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater (18th edn). American Public Health Association, USA.
  14. Manivasakam, N. 1987. Industrial effluents: Origin, characteristics, effects, analysis and treatment. Sakthi Publications, Coimbatore, India.
  15. APHA. 1965. Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater (pp 656-660). American Public Health Association.
  16. Trivedi, R.K. and Goel, P.K. 1986. Chemical and biological methods for water pollution studies. Environmental Publications, Karad, India.
  17. Jhingran, V.G., Natrajan, A.V., Banerjea, S.M. and David, A. 1988. Methodology on reservoir fisheries investigation in India. Bulletin no.,121-81. Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore, India.
  18. Manivasakam, N. 1996. Physico-chemical examination of water, sewage and industrial effluents (3rd edn). Pragati Prakashan, Meerut, India.
  19. Jackson, M.L. 1973. Soil chemical analysis (2nd edn). Prentice-Hall of India Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, India.
  20. Piper, K.G. and Higgins, G. 1967. Estimation of trace metals in biological material by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Proc. Assoc. Clin. Biochem., 4: 190–197. DOI: 10.1177/03698 5646 700400701.
  21. Gilman, J.C. 1959. A manual of soil fungi (2nd edn). The Iowa State University Press, Iowa, USA.
  22. Raper, K.B. and Fennell, D.I. 1965. The genus Aspergillus. Williams and Wilkins Company, Maryland, USA.
  23. Akbar, M., El-Sabrout, A.M., Shokralla, S., Mahmoud, E.A., Elansary, H.O., Akbar, F., Din, B., Haroon, U., Ali, M., Saleem, H., Anar, M., Kamal, A., Tahir, K., Ahmed, J., Zubair, M.S., Chaudhary, H.J. and Munis, M.F.H. 2022. Preservation and recovery of metal-tolerant fungi from industrial soil and their application to improve germination and growth of wheat. Sustain., 14(9): 5531. DOI: 10.3 390/su14095531.
  24. Liaquat, F., Munis, M.F.H., Haroon, U., Arif, S., Saqib, S., Zaman, W., Khan, A.R., Shi, J., Che, S. and Liu, Q. 2020. Evaluation of metal tolerance of fungal strains isolated from contaminated mining soil of nanjing, China. Biol., 9(12): 469. DOI: 10.33 90/biology9120469.
  25. CPCB. 2023. General standards for discharge of environmental pollutants. Central Pollution Control Board, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India.
  26. Kamalakkannan, P., Younis, M., Gezici, S., Kailash, S. and Iqbal, J. 2024. Characterization and impact of physico-chemical parameters of tannery effluent on the aquatic environment. Biotech. Res. Asia. 21(1). DOI: 10.13005/bbra/3215.
  27. Ravichandiran, S., Thagadurai, C. and Uthirasamy, S. 2019. Evaluation and characterization of physico-chemical parameters of tannery effluent. J. Emerg. Tech. Innov. Res., 6(6): 621-629.
  28. Bhardwaj, A., Kumar, S. and Singh, D. 2023. Tannery effluent treatment and its environmental impact: A review of current practices and emerging technologies. Water Qual. Res. J., 58(2): 128–140. DOI: 10.2166/wqrj.2023.002.
  29. Karunyal, S., Renuga, G. and Paliwal, K. 1994. Effects of tannery effluent on seed germination, leaf area, biomass and mineral content of some plants. Bioresour. Tech., 47: 215–220.
  30. Gutterres, M., Benvenuti, J., Fontoura, J.T. and Ortiz-Monsalve, S. 2015. Characterization of raw wastewater from tanneries. J. Soc. Leather Tech. Chem., 99(6): 280–287.
  31. Lokesha, S. and Somashekar, R.K. 1991. Effect of heavy metals on the growth of some fungi – a preliminary assay. Indian J. Env. Health. 33(1): 123–125.
  32. Metwally, M. and Abou-Zeid, A. 1995. Effect of toxic heavy metals on growth and metabolic activity of some fungi. Egypt J. Microbiol., 30(1): 115–127.
  33. Younas, H., Nazir, A., Latif, Z., Thies, J.E., Shafiq, M. and Bareen, F.E. 2022. Biosorption potential and molecular characterization of metal-resistant autochthonous microbes from tannery solid waste. Arch. Microbiol., 204(10): 651. DOI: 10.1007/s00203-022-03238-5.
  34. Yadav, P., Mishra, V., Kumar, T., Singh, U.K., Vamanu, E. and Singh, M.P. 2024. Cleansing tannery effluent with Pleurotus opuntiae: A green solution for environmental restoration and toxicity evaluation. Water. 16(9): 1313. DOI: 10.3390/w16 091313.
  35. Suvaiv, Singh, K., Kumar, A., Khan, A., Samman and Shahanawaz, M. 2026. Advantages of fungal bioremediation types of fungi used in wastewater treatment. In Fungi in wastewater treatment (vol 2). Ed Hussain, C.M., Srivastava, N. and Hussain, G. Springer, Cham. pp 21-42. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-01955-4_2.
  36. Fakhry, H., Ghoniem, A.A., Al-Otibi, F.O., Helmy, Y.A., El Hersh, M.S., Elattar, K.M., Saber, W.E.I.A. and Elsayed, A. 2023. A comparative study of Cr(VI) sorption by Aureobasidium pullulans AKW biomass and its extracellular melanin: complementary modelling with equilibrium isotherms, kinetic studies and decision tree modelling. Polymers. 15(18): 3754. DOI: 10.3390/polym15183754.
  37. Zareh, M.M., El-Sayed, A.S. and El-Hady, D.M. 2022. Biosorption removal of iron from water by Aspergillus niger. npj Clean Water. 5(1): 58.
  38. Priyadarshini, E., Priyadarshini, S.S., Cousins, B.G. and Pradhan, N. 2021. Metal–fungus interaction: Review on cellular processes underlying heavy metal detoxification and synthesis of metal nanoparticles. Chemosphere. 274: 129976. DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.129976.