Epicoccum nigrum and Cladosporium sp. for the treatment of oily effluent in an air-lift reactor

Abstract

The metalworking industry is responsible for one of the most complex and difficult to handle oily effluents. These effluents consist of cutting fluids, which provide refrigeration and purification of metallic pieces in the machining system. When these effluents are biologically treated, is important to do this with autochthonous microorganisms; the use of these microorganisms (bioaugmentation) tends to be more efficient because they are already adapted to the existing pollutants. For this purpose, this study aimed to use two indigenous microorganisms, Epicoccum nigrum and Cladosporium sp. for metalworking effluent treatment using an air-lift reactor; the fungus Aspergillus niger (laboratory strain) was used as a reference microorganism. The original effluent characterization presented considerable pollutant potential. The color of the effluent was 1495 mg Pt/L, and it contained 59 mg/L H2O2, 53 mg/L total phenols, 2.5 mgO2/L dissolved oxygen (DO), and 887 mg/L oil and grease. The COD was 9147 mgO2/L and the chronic toxicity factor was 1667. Following biotreatment, the fungus Epicoccum nigrum was found to be the most efficient in reducing (effective reduction) the majority of the parameters (26% COD, 12% H2O2, 59% total phenols, and 40% oil and grease), while Cladosporium sp. was more efficient in color reduction (77%).

High Potential of Methane Production from Coal by Fungi and Hydrogenotrophic Methanogens from Produced Water

“…There is great potential for fungi to degrade coal and refractory compounds . Fungi are often used to solubilize coal and remove refractory organic pollutants from soil and water, − such as Penicillium , Aspergillus , Epicoccum , Cladosporium , and Schizophyllum . Anaerobic fungi in the bovine rumen are believed to synergistically produce methane with methanogens .…”

Phosphorus Depletion as a Green Alternative to Biocides for Controlling Biodegradation of Metalworking Fluids

“…Once operationally exhausted, MWFs are typically treated using physicochemical and/or biological processes. Biological treatment of MWFs is increasingly taken serious as a disposal option and acknowledged as a potentially cost-effective and more sustainable end-of-life treatment strategy, particularly employing indigenous microbial consortia. − However, the addition of biocides and recalcitrant components, particularly in synthetic and semisynthetic MWFs, reduces the effectiveness of biological processes as stand-alone, end-of-life solutions for treating spent MWFs wastewater to regulatory discharge limits. , Hence, additional physicochemical treatments such as advanced oxidation (e.g., ozone and Fenton reactions) are often required to eliminate the recalcitrant components prior to discharge. − The global demand for MWFs in 2012 was estimated to be 2.2 million tons, and based on 2004 data the annual cost of treatment and disposal of 20 billion liters of MWFs wastewater generated in the UK alone was between £8–16 million…”