• Blog
  • Wastewater Testing
  • Bioaugmentation Applications
  • Useful Information
  • About Us
BIOLOGICAL WASTE TREATMENT EXPERT
Contact Us

Fungi applications in bioremediation and wastewater treatment

5/5/2015

 
Picture
In most of my earlier posts, I have discussed mostly bacterial action/grown on wastes. while bacteria are the most common organisms in waste treatment, we cannot ignore the impact of various fungi on treating wastes and recycling nutrients.

In the environment, fungi are competing with bacteria for nutrients and carbon sources. This competition has resulted in the ability to exploit various ecological niche by different microbes.


  • Given a lower surface area to organism size, the fungi are able to deal with nutrient (N,P) scarcity better than may bacteria. They are very efficient in the use of nutrients to build new cell mass.
  • Fungi are also able to grow in a wide pH range at levels below ideal for most common soil bacteria.
  • Fungi can grow at lower levels of moisture than bacteria.
  • Degradation of lignin - many fungi have adapted to fast grown on wood and other plant debris. Many of the enzymes used in degcrading the most recalcitrant portion of plant waste (lignin) also makes these enzymes able to initiate decomposition of complex organics such as DDT, TNT, and may other chlorinated or polyaromatic hydroarbons (PAHs). This non-specific use of the fungal enzymes is done via cometabolism rather than fungal direct action on the waste compounds. The most commonly studies fungi for waste degradation is the white rot wood fungus (Phanerochaete chyrsosporium).

It is this last portion that gives the weakness of fungi in waste treatment.
  • Fungi typically grow in attached mode which is used for both support and as a substrate for growth. For example, the P. chyrsosporium grows on wood chips when used in bioremediation.
  • Most fungi do not do well in suspended growth as found in the water column. This is where bacteria are very efficient at uptake of nutrients, carbon, and oxygen.

So when you have high levels of lignin or other wastes resistant to bacterial remediation, it could be worth investigating fungal cultures for biological treatment. In this case, you cannot simply drop a fungal spore or culture on the waste and expect good results. Instead, it is common practice to mix wood chips with active fungal cultures with soil or water contaminated with the waste. By keeping the blend mixed, aerated, and at proper moisture levels - the fungi can degrade the wastes.






Caleb Burgess
3/11/2017 10:00:37 am

Hello. Thank you for this insightful write-up on the potential bioremediation fungi have to offer civilization. I have a question, I was hoping to have elaborated. Based on your experience, do you think that the fungus would have to be reserved to process the wastewater at designated facilities, or is it possible to install them along strategic points of sanitary/industrial sewer line as the water travels?
Seeing as how sewer lines and manholes are dark, moist, and full of nutrients in the form of waste water, it has the potential to be a proper environment for fungi to thrive, while simultaneously lightening the load on sewage treatment plants.

Erik
3/13/2017 09:00:13 am

Gravity sewer lines and lift stations are being used as part of the wastewater pretreatment process. So far, we have done numerous trials with biofilm forming bacteria. In most cases, the objective has been to prevent solid grease accumulation and to reduce hydrogen sulfide odors. Could fungi be uses in sewers, possibly yes but it tends to grow bacteria much more readily at neutral pH. A low pH favoring fungi would cause sulfides from anaerobic zones to convert toward the most problematic H2S form.


Comments are closed.

    Author

    Erik Rumbaugh has been involved in biological waste treatment for over 20 years. He has worked with industrial and municipal wastewater  facilities to ensure optimal performance of their treatment systems. He is a founder of Aster Bio (www.asterbio.com) specializing in biological waste treatment.

    View my profile on LinkedIn

    RSS Feed

    Click to set custom HTML

    Archives

    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    June 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014

Proudly powered by Weebly
Photos used under Creative Commons from Picturepest, marcoverch, perzonseowebbyra, Picturepest, Picturepest, dsearls, dungodung, Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism, aqua.mech, vastateparksstaff, hile, Aaron Volkening, amishsteve, Neil DeMaster, mklwong88, KOMUnews, Picturepest, kaibara87