Original Articles
A. K. Chopra and Pushpendra Pa
Abstract
A study was conducted for aerobic treatment in an indegenously designed Bench-top Bioreactor to find out the degradability of color, COD and lignin content from Pulp and Paper mill effluent (PPME) using biosorption process. The Strains of Phanerochaete chrysosporium MTCC No. 787 and Aspergillus fumigatus MTCC No. 3377 procured from Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), Chandigarh was used. The strains exhibited significant reduction in color, COD and lignin content of the PPME to the extent of 86%, 56% and 71% respectively with P. chrysosporium and 80%, 51% and 63% respectively with A. fumigatus after 7 days of aerobic treatment in comparison to control. The reduction in these parameters started occurring from first day of the treatment, but the maximum reduction in these parameters was observed after 7 days, at pH (5.6±0.2), temperature (25±1°C) and biomass (5% v/v) of the fungal strains. The removal with P. chrysosporium was more in comparison to A. fumigatus. The kinetic study for the rate of removal of color, COD and lignin content by both species were found to best fit a pseudo first order reaction. The rate constant was found to be inversely proportional to the concentration of parameters. The Bench-top bioreactor used for the treatment of effluent was found to be cost effective. Significant reduction in color, COD and lignin content were achieved in our bioreactor at a fraction of the cost of commercially available bioreactors making our bioreactor more effective and economical for effluent treatment by the Pulp and paper industry.