Efficient decolorization of dye-containing wastewater using mycelial pellets formed of marine-derived Aspergillus niger

In order to improve the efficient decolorization of dye-containing water by biosorbent and understand the biosorption mechanism, the self-immobilization mycelial pellets were prepared using a marine-derived fungus Aspergillus niger ZJUBE-1, and an azo dye, Congo red was chosen as a model dye to investigate batch decolorization efficiency by pellets. The pellets as biosorbent showed strong salt and acid tolerance in biosorption process. The results for dye adsorption showed that the biosorption process fitted well with models of pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 263.2 mg·g^(-1) mycelium. During 6 batches of continuous decolorization operation, the mycelial pellets could possess efficient decolorization abilities(>98.5%).The appearance of new peak in the UV–Vis spectral result indicated that the decolorization process may also contain biodegradation. The mechanism studies showed that efficient biosorption ability of pellets only relies on the active zone on the surface of the pellet, which can be enhanced by nutrition supplement or be shifted outward by a reculture process.

Removal process and mechanism of hexavalent chromium by adsorption-coupled reduction with marine-derived Aspergillus niger mycelial pellets

In order to remove hexavalent chromium(Cr(Ⅵ))from solutions efficiently,the mycelial pellets with a marine-derived fungus Aspergillus niger as a biosorbent were prepared.The effects of removal process parameters such as solution pH,initial Cr(Ⅵ)concentration and biomass concentration on Cr(Ⅵ)removal process were investigated.The results showed that Cr(Ⅵ)removal rate up to 100%could be achieved under optimized conditions,which indicated the excellent Cr(Ⅵ)removal performance of the Aspergillus niger pellets.As a more important point,the Cr(Ⅵ)removal mechanism was studied,and the results revealed that Cr(Ⅵ)removal was achieved in the adsorption-coupled reduction process.A little of Cr(Ⅵ)was reduced to less toxic trivalent chromium(Cr(Ⅲ))in solution,while some was absorbed on the surface of mycelial pellets.Then they may be reduced on the surface or transferred into cells and then be reduced.The marine-derived A.niger mycelial pellets show properties of easy preparation and separation and cost effectiveness,which are potential biosorbent and reductant in the treatment of trace chromate containing wastewater.

The Feasibility of Immobilization of Bioflocculant-producing Bacteria Using Mycelial Pellets as Biomass Carriers

Bioflocculant-producing bacteria Agrobacterium tumefaciens F2 and Bacillus sphaeicus F6 were immobilized onto mycelial pellets to investigate the bioflocculant-producing potential of this combined organism and the corresponding flocculating efficiency. The atomic force microscope ( AFM) images of mycelial surface indicate that the mycelia pellet can immobilize bioflocculant-producing bacteria F2 and F6 as a biomass carrier. The flocculating efficiency of bioflocculant produced by this combined organism was studied under the optimum flocculating conditions obtained by Response Surface Methodology ( RSM ) . The fermentation yield of the combined mycelial pellet is about 2. 6 g / L,which is higher than that of the free bacteria ( only 2. 2 g / L) . Flocculating efficiency of the combined mycelial pellet was comparable with that of bioflocculant generated by the free bacteria. The bioflocculant yield is enhanced and the flocculating efficiency of the co-culture is uninfluenced after immobilized with mycelial pellet as a carrier. In conclusion,the mycelial pellet is feasible as a biomass carrier for the immobilization of bioflocculant-producing bacteria.

Biosorption of lead by Phanerochaete chrysosporium in the form of pellets

The growth of Phanerochaete chrysosporium (ATCC 24725) in pellets was influenced by culture time, medium pH, C/N, surfactant concentration, spore number in inoculum, and shaking rate. The removal of Pb 2+ from aqueous solution by this kind of mycelial pellets was studied. The results indicated that many factors affected biosorption. These factors included pH, Pb 2+ concentration, co ion, adsorption time, and chemical pretreatments of biomass. Under optimum biosorption conditions(pH 4 5, 27℃, 16h), the highest lead uptake of 108 mg/g, was observed with mycelial pellets of 1 5-1 7 mm in diameter which were treated with 0 1 mol/L NaOH solution before adsorption. Pretreatment of biomass with NaOH further increased its biosorption capacity.

Removal of dyes from wastewater by growing fungal pellets in a semi-continuous mode

To increase the efficiency of dye removal from wastewater using mycelial pellets, a bubble column reactor with a simple structure was designed and efficiently used to remove dyes from solution containing dyes. The mycelial pellets were prepared by marine fungus Aspergillus niger ZJUBE-1. Eight dyes were tested as dye targets for the adsorption capacity of mycelial pellets and good removal results were obtained. Eriochrome black T was selected as a model dye for characterizing the adsorption processes in detail. The measurement results of Zeta potential and FT- IR analysis indicate that the electrostatic attraction may play a key role in the biosorption process. The bubble column reactor was utilized to study the batch dye-removal efficiency of mycelial pellets. A re-culture process between every two batches, which was under non-sterile condition, successfully enhanced the utilization of mycelium bio- mass. The dye removal rate is 96.4% after 12 h in the first batch and then decreases slowly in the following batches. This semi-continuous mode, which consists of commutative processes of dye-removal and re-culture, has some outstanding advantages, such as low power consumption, easy operation, high dye removal rate, and efficient biomass utilization.