Removal of refractory contaminants from mature landfill leachate utilizing fungi and evaluation of lignocellulosic enzymatic activity

Abstract

The aim of this research was to evaluate the refractory contaminants removal efficiency from the MLL deploying selected fungi and to investigate their lignocellulosic enzymatic activities. Among the six deployed fungal species (Trichoderma asperellum, Cladosporium sp., Penicillium sp., Tyromyces chioneus, Bjerkandera adusta, and Phanerochaete chrysosporium), Penicillium sp. and T. chioneus appeared to be most effective strains with 66% and 59% COD reduction; and associated highest laccase (Lac), lignin-peroxidase (LiP), and manganese-peroxidase (MnP) activities of 250, 8, and 11 U/L from Penicillium sp. and 165, 19, and 27 U/L from T. chioneus. Penicillium sp. was also utilized in a continuous pack bed bioreactor operated at 48, 72, 96, and 120 h hydraulic retention time (HRT). Bioreactor exhibited maximum 52%, 54%, 60%, 58%, and 75% of COD, soluble COD, total carbon, total organic carbon, and color removal efficiencies at HRT 120 h and maximum enzymatic activities were 149, 27, and 16 U/L of Lac, LiP, and MnP, respectively. The findings seem to be promising for further exploration to enhance refractory contaminants removal from problematic wastewater.