Biobleaching of Pulp and Paper Mill Effluent Using Mixed White Rot Fungi

Ajit Kumar*¹, Vikas Shrivastava¹, Manoj Pathak¹ and R. S. Singh²

¹Department of Biotechnology, IASCA, ITM Universe, Gwalior India.

²Department of Biotechnology, Punjabi University, Patiala India.

Corresponding Author E-mail: ajitcreation@yahoo.co.in

ABSTRACT: In the recent past, white rot fungi have received a considerable attention for the removal of color from pulp and paper mill effluents. Investigation was carried out to compare the biobleaching potential of reported four immobilized whit-rot fungal strains (a) Phanerocheate chrysosporium, (b) Trametes versicolor, (c) Daldelia flavida and (d) Pleurotus ostreatus. Also, the most efficient decolorizer was co-immobilized with best Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) reducer and the suitability of the same was studied. The treated and pre-treated combined effluent samples for the study was collected from Varindra-Agros Paper Mills Ltd., Barnala, Punjab, and stored at 4+10C, until further use. Polyurethane Foam (PUF) pieces were used for adsorption and immobilization of white-rot fungi. The study revealed T. versicolor MTCC 138 as the best decoloriser with 87.7% color reduction, while P. chrysosporium BKMF 1767 was found to reduce COD up to a maximum of 42.3%, after 72 hours incubation time at 30+10C. The mixed immobilized cultures of P. chrysosporium BKMF 1767 and T. versicolor MTCC 138 supported the maximum color reduction of 88.84% and a corresponding COD reduction of 41.60% after 120 hours of incubation at 30+10C. The study suggests that co-immobilized system can be more efficient for decolorization and COD reduction of pulp and paper mill effluent and paves a good platform for further investigation of enzymatic remedial processes for the same.

KEYWORDS: Biobleaching; Co-immobilized; P. chrysosporiuml; T. versicolor; COD

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