In order to improve the efficient decolorization of dye-containing water by biosorbent and understand the biosorption mechanism

the self-immobilization mycelial pellets were prepared using a marine-derived fungus

Aspergillus niger

ZJUBE-1

and an azo dye

Congo red was chosen as a model dye to investigate batch decolorization efficiency by pellets. The pellets as biosorbent showed strong salt and acid tolerance in biosorption process. The results for dye adsorption showed that the biosorption process fittedwell withmodels of pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm

with a maximum adsorption capacity of 263.2 mg·g

-1

mycelium. During 6 batches of continuous decolorization operation

the mycelial pellets could possess efficient decolorization abilities (98.5%). The appearance of new peak in the UV-Vis spectral result indicated that the decolorization processmay also contain biodegradation. The mechanism studies showed that efficient biosorption ability of pellets only relies on the active zone on the surface of the pellet

which can be enhanced by nutrition supplement or be shifted outward by a reculture process.