Improved biofilm carriers for fungal exploitation in wastewater treatment

In Moving Bed Biofilm Reactors (MBBR) the biofilm grows protected within small plastic carriers (known as biofilm carriers), which are designed with high internal surface area. The biological wastewater treatment process consists of adding biofilm carriers in aerated or anoxic tanks to support biofilm attachment and growth. Some of the authors conceived, designed and realised an improved carrier (new shape and material) for fungal biofilm development. The improved biofilm carriers were tested in laboratory conditions and good results were obtained. This new biofilm carrier will be used to treat cellulosic (tannery and papermill) wastewaters and is grafted with cellulose fibers for the self-sustainability of the fungal biomass. This will facilitate substrate adhesion, due to biochemical capabilities of the selected strains, which involve secretion of extracellular enzymes, that can break down substrate by combined action of several degradative processes, such as demethylation, oxidative cleavage of the propane side chain, cleavage of ether bonds between monomers etc.