Performance of wild-serbian ganoderma lucidum mycelium in treating synthetic sewage loading using batch bioreactor

The fluctuation of domestic wastewater characteristic inhibits the current conventional microbial-based treatment. The bioremediation fungi has received attention and reported to be an effective alternative to treat industrial wastewater. Similar efficient performance is envisaged for domestic wastewater whereby assessed performance of fungi for varying carbon-to-nitrogen ratios in domestic wastewater is crucial. Thus, the performance of pre-grown wild-Serbian Ganoderma lucidum mycelial pellets (GLMPs) was evaluated on four different synthetic domestic wastewaters under different conditions of initial pH (pH 4, 5, and 7) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) to nitrogen (COD/N) ratio of 3.6:1, 7.1:1, 14.2:1, and 17.8:1 (C3.6N1, C7.1N1, C14.2N1, and C17.8N1). The COD/N ratios with a constant concentration of ammonia–nitrogen (NH3–N) were chosen on the basis of the urban domestic wastewater characteristics sampled at the inlet basin of a sewage treatment plant (STP). The parameters of pH, COD, and NH3–N were measured periodically during the experiment. The wild-Serbian GLMPs efficiently removed the pollutants from the synthetic sewage. The COD/N ratio of C17.8N1 wastewater had the best COD and NH3–N removal, as compared to the lower COD/N ratio, and the shortest treatment time was obtained in an acidic environment at pH 4. The highest percentage for COD and NH3–N removal achieved was 96.0% and 93.2%, respectively. The results proved that the mycelium of GLMP has high potential in treating domestic wastewater, particularly at high organic content as a naturally sustainable bioremediation system

Optimization of a Fungally Bioaugmented Biomixture for Carbofuran Removal in On-Farm Biopurification Systems

Biomixtures comprise the active part of biopurification systems (BPS) for the removal of pesticide-containing wastewater from agricultural origin. Considering that biomixtures contain an important amount of lignocellulosic substrates, their bioaugmentation with degrading ligninolytic fungi represents a promising way to improve BPS. The fungus Trametes versicolor was employed for the bioaugmentation of rice husk-compost-soil (GCS) biomixtures in order to optimize the removal of the highly toxic insecticide/nematicide carbofuran (CFN). Composition of biomixtures has not been optimized before, and usually, a volumetric composition of 50:25:25 (lignocellulosic substrate:humic component:soil) is employed. Optimization of the biomixture composition was performed with a central composite design, using the volumetric content of rice husk (pre-colonized by the fungus) and the volumetric ratio compost/soil as design variables. Performance of biomixtures was comprehensively assayed considering CFN removal, the production of toxic transformation products (3-hydroxycarbofuran/3-ketocarbofuran), the ability to mineralize [14C]carbofuran, and the residual toxicity in the matrix. According to the models, the optimal volumetric composition of the GCS biomixture is 30:43:27, which maximizes removal and mineralization rate, and minimizes the accumulation of transformation products. Results support the value of assessing new biomixture formulations according to the target pesticide in order to obtain their optimal performance, before their use in BPS.Universidad de Costa Rica/[802-B2-046]/UCR/Costa RicaUniversidad de Costa Rica/[802-B4-503]/UCR/Costa RicaUniversidad de Costa Rica/[802-B4-609]/UCR/Costa RicaMinisterio de Ciencia, Tecnología y Telecomunicaciones/[FI-093-13]/MICITT/Costa RicaMinisterio de Ciencia, Tecnología y Telecomunicaciones/[802-B4-503]/MICITT/Costa RicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Básicas::Centro en Investigación en Contaminación Ambiental (CICA

Fungal bioaugmentation of two rice husk-based biomixtures for the removal of carbofuran in on-farm biopurification systems

The ligninolytic fungus Trametes versicolor was employed in the bioaugmentation of compost- (GCS) and peat-based (GTS) biomixtures for the removal of the insecticide-nematicide carbofuran (CFN). Among several lignocellulosic substrates, fungal colonization was best supported in rice husk, and this pre-colonized substrate was used to prepare the biomixtures. Estimated half-lives for CFN were 3.4 and 8.1 days in the GTS and GCS biomixtures, respectively. The CFN transformation products 3-hydroxycarbofuran and 3-ketocarbofuran were detected at the moment of CFN application, but their concentration continuously decreased to complete removal in both biomixtures. Mineralization of 14Cradiolabeled CFN was faster in GTS (k=0.00248 day−1) than in GCS (k=0.00188 day−1). Complete elimination of the toxicity in the matrices was demonstrated after 48 days. Overall data suggest that the bioaugmentation improved the performance of the GTS rather than the GCS biomixture.Universidad de Costa Rica/[802-B2-046]/UCR/Costa RicaUniversidad de Costa Rica/[802-B4-503]/UCR/Costa RicaUniversidad de Costa Rica/[802-B4-609]/UCR/Costa RicaMinisterio de Ciencia, Tecnología y Telecomunicaciones/[FI-093-13]/MICITT/Costa RicaFood and Agriculture Organization/[TC COS5/029]/FAO/Costa RicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Básicas::Centro en Investigación en Contaminación Ambiental (CICA

New Insights into the Occurrence of Micropollutants and the Management and Treatment of Hospital Effluent

This chapter deals with investigations carried out over the last five years on hospital effluent in terms of the occurrence of micropollutants; new and promising technologies tested to improve the removal of key compounds (including emerging contaminants); the environmental and health risk assessments of pharmaceuticals residues and pathogens; and, finally, some of the strategies adopted in hospital effluent management and treatments through the discussion of some case studies. It emerges that the occurrence and treatment of hospital effluent are becoming issues of increasing concern also for countries such as Morocco, Tunisia, Iran and Colombia, whose research groups had not actively participated in the worldwide debate thus far. Their interest in these topics highlights the shared, global awareness of the need to adopt safe, economic and technically feasible technologies for the treatment of hospital effluent to reduce the impact on the aquatic environment of hazardous substances typically administered or used in healthcare facilities. The experiences reported and discussed herein demonstrate the worldwide efforts that have been made and are still ongoing with the aim of reaching Sustainable Millennium Goal number 6 “Improve Clean Water and Sanitation” by 2030, as defined by the World Health Organization