Abstract
Arsenic (As) contamination in ground water has become a serious health hazard. Present study explored the efficiency of modified mushroom biomass in mitigating drinking water arsenic contamination. Usage of iron oxide coated powder of the oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) had been found efficient in removing arsenic from drinking water. At 1 g/L concentration, the modified mushroom powder could reduce up to 70% of the arsenite [As(III)] in the current experimental set up. However, effect of pH, temperature, concentration of biomass and arsenite [As(III)] in the media as well as exposure time greatly affect the adsorption process. Thus, mitigation of arsenic in the drinking water using the mushroom P. ostreatus seems promising.