Aplicación de hongos para la degradación de soluciones acuosas de fenol.

Abstract

The bioremediation potential of a soil Penicillium chrysogenum was studied in batch culture using synthetic phenol as a sole carbon and energy source. Degradation was performed at room temperature, in resting mycelium conditions, without an acclimation period. Studies were conducted in liquid mineral salt medium with initial phenol concentration of 6, 30, 60, 200, 350 and 400 mg.l-1. The time required for complete degradation increased with the phenol concentration. Inhibition was observed on the specific growth and degradation rate. The growth rate was inhibited at phenol concentrations higher than 30 mg.l-1, while the degradation rate was inhibited at 200 mg.l-1. The high specific degradation rates obtained under resting mycelium conditions are relevant for practical applications of this fungus in soil decontamination processes. Experimental results were fitted to the Haldane model. Estimated values for μmax, KS, and KI were: 1.30 ± 0.20 d-1, 9.43 ± 1.54 mg.l-1 and 64.91 ± 17.88 mg.l-1, respectively. The of the observed yield coefficient YX/S varied with the specific growth rate μ according to Pirt?s maintenance energy model. Dynamic mass balance equations for biomass and phenol during the exponential and stationary growth phases were solved and compared very satisfactorily to experimental outcomes.