Fungal Biomass-Based Processing of Phenolics-Rich Wastewaters

A variety of phenolic compounds commonly contained in many vegetal processing wastewaters complicate their biological treatment since such compounds are tipically characterized by a biorecalcitrant nature, generally leading to an overall increased disposal cost. In this work, the capability of the fungus Trichoderma viride to actively grow on phenolics-containing substrates was tested. Gallic and tannic acid were adopted as model pollutants of the phenolic fraction contained in most wastewaters, while glucose was representative of readily metabolizable COD. T. viride was shown not to be inhibited by concentrated gallic acid and to be able to use it as a substrate for its growth. Tannic acid was not removed but did not inhibit T. viride growth.