Comparing carriers as a support media of white-rot fungi in natural tannins removal

In the last decades, White-rot Fungi bioremediation potential has been widely investigated, providing remarkable results toward several recalcitrant molecules. However, full-scale applications based on fungi are not employed yet and little is known about their optimal operating conditions, such as (i) their ability to grow without sterile conditions, (ii) co-substrate requirements and (iii) the accurate carrier design for fungal growth. In this study, several batch tests were performed as preliminary steps to evaluate the possible design of a pilot-scale reactor based on fungal biomass to be operated under not-sterile conditions in the removal of Quebracho natural tannin. The tests were performed to verify fungal affinity, including Basidiomycetes and Ascomycetes for innovative cellulose-containing carriers compared to commonly employed PolyUrethane Foam Cubes. In particular, four fungi, including three Basidiomycetes White-rot Fungi, Bjerkandera adusta, Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Tyromyces chioneus and the Ascomycota strain Aspergillus tubingensis, were employed