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Title: The use of white-rot fungi as active biofilters

Conference ·
OSTI ID:479362

White-rot fungi, growing on lignocellulosic substrates, have been successfully used as active organisms in biofilters. Filters using these fungi have a very high biological active surface area, allowing for high degrees of retention, a comparatively low pressure drop, and a high physical stability. The unspecific action of the extracellular enzymes of the white-rot fungi allows for the degradation of a wide variety of substances by the same organism. Degradation of several compounds in the gas phase by the white-rot fungi Trametes versicolor, Pleurotus ostreatus, Bjerkandera adusta, and Phanerochaete chrysosporium was tested. Among the aromatic solvents, styrene was the compound that was most readily degraded, followed by ethylbenzene, xylenes, and toluene. Tetrahydrofuran and dichloromethane were also degraded, whereas dioxane could not be attacked by fungi under the conditions used. Acrylonitrile and aniline were degraded very well, whereas pyridine was resistant to degradation. The process for removing styrene is now in the scaling-up stage.

OSTI ID:
479362
Report Number(s):
CONF-950483-; ISBN 1-57477-010-1; TRN: IM9725%%123
Resource Relation:
Conference: 3. international in situ and on-site bioreclamation symposium, San Diego, CA (United States), 24-27 Apr 1995; Other Information: PBD: 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of Biological unit processes for hazardous waste treatment; Hinchee, R.E.; Skeen, R.S. [eds.] [Battelle Memorial Inst., Columbus, OH (United States)]; Sayles, G.D. [ed.]; PB: 358 p.; Bioremediation, Volume 3(9)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English