Biosorption of rare-earth elements by Ganoderma lucidum: Mechanistic studies

Among the various technologies being suggested for heavy metal management, biosorption has emerged as the most promising. Though biosorbents have been used for most toxic metals, few reports on rare earths have appeared. This is primarily because rare earths are not traditionally considered as toxic, though they are. Secondly, rare earths are limited geographically, and only limited areas are affected by the pollution. This paper describes the application of an established biosorbent, Ganoderma lucidum, for biosorption of rare earths.