Degradation of Tribromophenol by Wood-Decaying Fungi and the 1,2-Dihydroxybenzene–Assisted Fenton Reaction

ABSTRACT

The degradation of 2,4,6-tribromophenol (TBP) by biological and chemical treatments was studied. Biological treatment involved the use of Laetoporeus sulfureus, Gloephyllum trabeum, and Ganoderma australe in liquid culture. Despite the inhibitory effects of TBP on the fungal growth, these fungi were able to degrade TBP after 15 days of biotreatment. At 66, 116, and 183 μ M TBP, the degradation by G. australe was the most efficient (71% to 77%), whereas G. trabeum and L. sulfureus degraded between 50% and 60% of three TBP concentrations. The removal of organic bromine reached values of 50% in all cases. The chemical treatment (1,2-dihydroxybenzene–assisted Fenton reaction) achieved up to 90% of TBP degradation. However, only 40% of TBP was mineralized and the toxicity level did not undergo changes during the chemical treatment. On the other hand, a 30% reduction in toxicity was obtained with a combined chemical-biological treatment.

KEYWORDS:

• dihydroxybenzene
• Fenton
• tribromophenol
• wood-decaying fungi

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors thank the ALFA-European Union and FONDECYT-Chile grant number 1040619.