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In this study, the bioaccumulation and biosorption of aqueous metals (cadmium, copper, lead, zinc and trivalent chromium) by live and dead cells of Penicillium simplicissimum (isolate 10) were investigated and compared. Removal experiments under varying cell concentrations, pH and initial metal concentrations revealed that live cells generally achieved highest metal removal rates when 0.80 g fresh weight of cells was used, with metal solutions at pH 5 and concentrations of 50–100 mg L⁻¹ (up to 150 and 200 mg L⁻¹ for cadmium and lead, respectively). On the contrary, biosorption of metals by dead cells occurred at maximum rates when as little as 0.15 g dry weight of cells was used, in conditions of pH 5–7 (metal dependent) and lower metal concentration of 50 mg L⁻¹. This comparative analysis suggested that although effective bioremediation by live cells required more cell biomass and preferred the …