Zinc is a ubiquitous trace element in natural waters.  Although at low concentrations zinc is essential to human health, higher concentrations can result in degraded water quality and ecosystem health.  The mobility and bioavailability of Zn may be regulated by the interactions with mineral surfaces. However, there is little known about the affinity of Zn for these surfaces of fungally produced Mn oxides, which are known to be strong sorbents of most metals.  This study aims to investigate the sorption of Mn oxides produced synthetically and biogenically via a variety of fungal cultures. Sorption experiments will then be conducted using oxides produced three differing Mn-oxidizing fungal cultures, as well as abiogenic Mn oxides, to determine the maximum sorption extent of Zn onto each Mn oxide tested.  It is expected that, due to structural differences, biogenic and synthetic Mn oxides will possess varying sorption properties.  These findings yield significant understanding to zinc cycling within natural systems and further develop our understanding of environmental remediation efforts aimed toward zinc mitigation.<br/>

Comparison of zinc sorption affinity to synthetic and biogenic manganese oxides

251st National Meeting (2016)

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