Abstract
ABSTRACT
A wide range of hazardous compounds are transformed by the white rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium and its extracellular enzyme lignin peroxidase. Low levels of lignin peroxidase produced by P. chrysosporium, slow growth of the organism resulting in low degradation rates, and the lack of reliable bioreactor systems are some of the constraints in the application of this fungal system in hazardous waste treatment. This research focused on the use of a biofilm membrane stirred tank reactor for the improved production of lignin peroxidase and treatment of pentachlorophenol by P. chrysosporium. Surface area available for biofilm growth and glucose consumption amounts were found to be important parameters affecting lignin peroxidase production. Conditions yielding high enzyme production were subsequently used for studies on treatment of pentachlorophenol (PCP), a common priority pollutant. The overall rate of PCP disappearance in the bioreactor was found to be 10.5 mg/L-day, which was found to be a five-fold increase over the rate obtained in flask-scale experiments. Due to the highly nonspecific nature of the white rot fungal system, the bioreactor system and the operating conditions used in this study are expected to be applicable to the treatment of other hazardous compounds and hazardous wastes.
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