Mycoextraction of radiolabeled cesium and strontium by Pleurotus eryngii mycelia in the presence of alumina nanoparticles: Sorption and accumulation studies

The sorption capacity of Al2O3 NPs and the accumulation by P. eryngii mycelia differ for the applied radioisotopes. The efficiency of Cs and Sr sorption by alumina nanoparticles is 20% and 40%, respectively. Mycelia of P. eryngii have the ability to accumulate 30% of both radioisotopes from the medium. More than 60% of strontium can be removed accumulated from water by P. eryngii mycelia in coexistence with Al2O3 NPs, while the efficiency of cesium removal accumulation is negligible. It was found that alumina nanoparticles do not enhance uptake of radionuclides by P. eryngii mycelia; mycoextraction of radionuclides by mycelia and sorption by Al2O3 NPs are concurrent processes. There was no difference between live or dried mycelia uptake.