A New, Pellet‐Forming Fungal Strain: Its Isolation, Molecular Identification, and Performance for Simultaneous Sludge‐Solids Reduction, Flocculation, and Dewatering

Abstract

Filamentous and nonfilamentous microorganisms can cause bulking and foaming in wastewater sludge settling and dewatering. In this research, sludge degradation and bioflocculation was studied using pelletforming filamentous fungi isolated from municipal wastewater sludge. To understand the role of filamentous fungi in sludge settling and dewatering, the isolated fungi was inoculated with both spores and pellets (beads) into sterilized and nonsterilized sludge having different suspended-solids concentrations. Biofloc formation, sludge settling, sludge degradation, change in pH of fungal-grown medium, zeta potential, and microscopic analysis of bioflocs were performed. The suspended-solids concentration was found to decrease over 5 d of incubation because of use and biodegradation by fungal biomass. The isolated fungal strain was well adapted to forming biofloc and to interacting with natural microbial flora and exhibited low capillary-suction time for sludge dewatering. Water Environ. Res., 80, 840 (2008).

Analysis of bacterial, fungal and archaeal populations from a municipal wastewater treatment plant developing an innovative aerobic granular sludge process

“…In the fungal population, Scopulariopsis and Penicillium were found to be a major part of the AGS. These organisms have been suggested to assist in degradation of organic pollutants such as soluble protein and sugar and the improvement of sludge settleability (Subramanian et al 2008(Subramanian et al , 2010More et al 2010). Fungi have been suggested to serve as a backbone for floc formation benefitting the granulation of sludge (Morgenroth et al 1997;Subramanian et al 2008Subramanian et al , 2010.…”

Characterization of Extracellular Polymeric Substances (Eps) Produced by Cloacibacterium normanense Isolated from Wastewater Sludge for Sludge Settling and Dewatering

“…After addition of EPS, the samples were mixed at 120 rpm for first 5 min (which enables the biopolymers to mix and bring them in contact with the sludge particles) followed by mixing at 50 rpm for 25 min (that enables flocs formation). Each mixed sludge sample was then transferred into 1 L graduated measuring cylinder for SVI measurement [15]. Sludge settling efficiency in each cylinder was monitored at 5, 10, 20 and 30 min.…”

Pollutants Biodegradation by Fungi

“…Garbage biodegradation was also studied by white-rot fungi [289]. Sludge degradation and bioflocculation were studied using pellet-forming filamentous fungi isolated from municipal wastewater sludge [290].…”