Bioremediation Potential of the Endophytic Fungus Penicillium janthinellum for Heavy Metal Removal from Wastewater

Heavy metal contamination of aquatic environments represents a major ecological and public health threat due to the persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity of metals such as Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, and Cr. The present study evaluates the bioremediation potential of the endophytic fungus Penicillium janthinellum isolated from the stem tissues of Zygophyllum coccineum. The isolate was morphologically and molecularly identified using ITS rDNA sequencing and screened for its biosorption capacity toward heavy metals in wastewater collected from drains south of Manzala Lake, Egypt. Spore suspensions were immobilized in alginate beads and applied in batch systems to assess the effects of pH, temperature, and contact time on metal removal. Results revealed that P. janthinellum exhibited high biosorption efficiency, with removal percentages ranging from 67–74% for Pb, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Cr, respectively. Optimal removal occurred at slightly acidic pH (5–6), moderate temperature (30–35 °C), and contact time of 200–300 min. The fungus demonstrated strong tolerance to elevated metal concentrations and maintained stable performance under natural wastewater conditions. These findings highlight the potential of P. janthinellum as an eco-friendly and cost-effective biosorbent for the remediation of heavy metal–polluted effluents