Comparing carriers as a support media of white-rot fungi in natural tannins removal

• Published in: Environmental advances 2022-10, Vol.9, p.100311, Article 100311
• Main Authors: Bardi, A., Ciummei, Y., Spennati, F., Moga, I.C., Gregorio, S. Di, Petroni, G., Munz, G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Batch tests; Bioremediation; Carriers; Fungi; Sterile condition
• ISSN: 2666-7657; 2666-7657
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envadv.2022.100311

•The growth of white-rot fungi was tested on polyethylene carriers containing cellulose.•Basidiomycetes could cover fully the carriers with the highest cellulose percentage.•B. adusta could grow up to 60% of carrier surface in not-sterile conditions.•B. adusta growth was associated with 25 ± 4% Quebracho tannin sCOD removal.•B. adusta and A. tubingensis could grow together and remove Quebracho sCOD up to 15±4% In the last decades, White-rot Fungi bioremediation potential has been widely investigated, providing remarkable results toward several recalcitrant molecules. However, full-scale applications based on fungi are not employed yet and little is known about their optimal operating conditions, such as (i) their ability to grow without sterile conditions, (ii) co-substrate requirements and (iii) the accurate carrier design for fungal growth. In this study, several batch tests were performed as preliminary steps to evaluate the possible design of a pilot-scale reactor based on fungal biomass to be operated under not-sterile conditions in the removal of Quebracho natural tannin. The tests were performed to verify fungal affinity, including Basidiomycetes and Ascomycetes for innovative cellulose-containing carriers compared to commonly employed PolyUrethane Foam Cubes. In particular, four fungi, including three Basidiomycetes White-rot Fungi, Bjerkandera adusta, Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Tyromyces chioneus and the Ascomycota strain Aspergillus tubingensis, were employed. As a first step, fungi were tested to evaluate their ability to attach and grow onto 12 types of innovative carriers made by High-Density PolyEthylene and containing cellulose in different percentages. Other tests were performed without sterile conditions. In particular, fungal abilities (i) to attach and grow onto two different types of support, including cellulose-containing carrier and polyurethane foam cubes and (ii) to biotransform recalcitrant molecules (Quebracho natural tannin) (iii) to grow and operate synergistically in a consortium of two fungi, were evaluated. The main parameters evaluated were soluble Chemical Oxygen Demand (sCOD) reduction and dry weight increase. Basidiomycetes showed high affinity for cellulose-containing carrierswith the highest cellulose percentage (7%) achieving full colonization and 60% coverage, in sterile conditions and not- sterile conditions, respectively. These results were associated with a Quebracho sCOD removal of 25 ± 4%, without sterility.