A Sustainable Approach for Synthesis of Chitin Nanofibers From <i>Rhizopus stolonifer</i> AUMC 10992: Its Characterization and Application for Biosorption of Different Metals From Wastewater As Well As Antimicrobial Agent

Environmental biotechnology still faces several difficulties with bioremediation of potentially toxic element pollution. To our knowledge, the application performance of some fungi in bioremediation can be greatly improved by the combination with nanotechnology. This work develops a recent approach for extracting metals out of water via their absorption on Rhizopus stolonifer chitin nanofibers (ChNFs) that were isolated via a purification procedure, mechanically treated, and then grown under ideal culture conditions. It is a promising, hassle-free, and environmentally benign method for wastewater bioremediation. The ChNFs were applied as adsorbents for Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, and Ba²⁺ separately. Among the five metal ions, chitin nanoparticles displayed the largest removal percentage (%) for Cu²⁺ (90.4%), followed by Pb²⁺ (78.9%), and the lowest removal percentage (%) was for Ba²⁺ (20.3%). Herein, we deem that this study will strengthen the basic knowledge and provide valuable insight into the various applications of R. stolonifer ChNFs in the bioremediation field.