Improved productivity and dye removal performance of Trametes versicolor pellets using rice husk as a co-substrate

J Microbiol Methods. 2024 Jun 24:106976. doi: 10.1016/j.mimet.2024.106976. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Pellet production represents a critical step for several processes requiring fungal biomass, nevertheless, its optimization is seldom reported. The use of finely ground rice husk as a microcarrier and co-substrate permitted a marked increase (≈ 2.7×) in the productivity of fungal pellet production using Trametes versicolor compared to traditional production systems. The pellets show similar structure and smaller size compared to typical sole-mycelium pellets, as well as comparable laccase activity. The efficiency of the pellets for biodegradation was confirmed by the removal of the crystal violet dye, achieving significantly faster elimination rates compared to the traditionally produced pellets. The use of these pellets during the continuous treatment of the dye in a stirred tank bioreactor resulted in 97% decolorization using a hydraulic residence time of 4.5 d.

PMID:38925440 | DOI:10.1016/j.mimet.2024.106976