BIODEGRADATION OF REACTIVE ORANGE 16 BY PHANEROCHAETE CHRYSOSPORIUM FUNGUS: APPLICATION IN A FLUIDIZED BED BIOREACTOR

Application of a fluidized bed bioreactor working for treatment of colored wastewaters has been studied using Phanerochaete chrysosporium fungus immobilized in calcium alginate biogel beads. The working volume of the bioreactor was 1 L; experiments were performed at room temperature and pH of culture medium was initially adjusted to 4. Manganese Peroxidase activity, glucose and ammonium concentrations have been assayed daily along the 7 operating days. Azo dye Reactive Orange 16 was added to the bioreactor after 7 days of incubation and decolorization was assayed by spectrophotometer for 1 h intervals. Maximum Manganese peroxidase activity of 96±8 U/L was obtained on day 7, and 70±3 % decolorization was achieved after 6 h of dye addition. The results were compared to free cell cultures from previous studies and the role of agitation and immobilization of cells in increasing of the efficiency of decolorization was discussed. The mechanism and morphology of the immobilization of cells in ca-alginate beads were studied and the relationship between glucose and ammonium consumption and ligninolytic activity of fungi were discussed.