Removal of the organic content from a bleached kraft pulp mill effluent by a treatment with silica-alginate-fungi biocomposites

Abstract

This study attempts a treatment strategy of a bleached kraft pulp mill effluent with Rhizopus oryzae or Pleurotus sajor caju encapsulated on silica-alginate (biocomposite of silica-alginate-fungi, with the purpose of reducing its potential impact in the environment. Active (alive) or inactive (death by sterilization) Rhizopus oryzae or Pleurotus sajor caju was encapsulated in alginate beads. Five beads containing active and inactive fungus were placed in a mold and filled with silica hydrogel (biocomposites). The biocomposites were added to batch reactors containing the bleached kraft pulp mill effluent. The treatment of bleached kraft pulp mill effluent by active and inactive biocomposites was performed throughout 29 days at 28°C. The efficiency of treatment was evaluated by measuring the removal of organic compounds, chemical oxygen demand and the relative absorbance ratio over time. Both fungi species showed potential for removal of organic compounds, colour and chemical oxygen demand. Maximum values of reduction in terms of colour (56%), chemical oxygen demand (65%) and organic compounds (72–79%) were attained after 29 days of treatment of bleached kraft pulp mill effluent by active Rhizopus oryzae biocomposites. The immobilization of fungi, the need for low fungal biomass, and the possibility of reutlization of the biocomposites clearly demonstrate the industrial and environmental interest in bleached kraft pulp mill effluent treatment by silica-alginate-fungi biocomposites.

Keywords:

• Kraft pulp mill effluent
• fungi
• pleurotus sajor caju
• rhizopus oryzae
• biocomposites
• wastewater treatment

Acknowledgments

This work was developed under the scope of the FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal) research grants (SFRH/BPD/73781/2010 and SFRH/BPD/65410/2009) funded by QREN-POPH and co-financed by the European Social Fund and Portuguese National Funds from MCTES, through FSE and POPH funds (Programa Ciência 2007).

The authors wish to thank María C. Arau Ribeiro, Ph.D., for editing our manuscript and for helpful suggestions in the use of the English language.