Application of response surface methodology for optimization of important parameters in decolorizing treated distillery wastewater using Aspergillus fumigatus UB2 60

Distillery wastewater causes many environmental problems and colored substances must be removed from it before discharge into the environment. Decolorization of anaerobically treated distillery wastewater was therefore studied using locally isolated Aspergillus fumigatus. As cultural conditions are very important for the decolorization process, the combined effect of initial maltose concentration, pH and mycelial mass was studied using response surface methodology. A central composite design for the three variables was employed to study the combined effect on decolorization efficiency of distillery wastewater. The optimum initial maltose concentration was found to be 15.13 g/l, the optimum pH was 5.57 and the optimum mycelial mass 2.57 g/l.