Bench-scale development and evaluation of a fungal bioreactor for color removal from bleach effluents

Summary A recently developed color removal method uses a ligninolytic fungus,Phanerochaete chrysosporium, and a rotating biological contactor to decolorize pulp and paper bleach effluents. Bench-scale studies were undertaken with the objective of developing an aeration reactor to remove color. Culture conditions and biomass characteristics of the process were established. Experiments determined that the aeration process had a maximum color removal rate of 1300 color units per liter per day.