An economical phenol bioremoval method using Aspergillus versicolor and agricultural wastes as a carbon source

The aim of the current study was testing the performance of an economical phenol bioremoval method using Aspergillus versicolor and some agricultural wastes, which would supply the necessary carbon required by the process. The experiments were performed in a mineral salt medium containing glucose and sugars obtained from apple and carrot pomaces by acidic hydrolysis. The first experiments were designed to test the effects of different pH values and initial phenol concentrations on phenol bioremoval. The fungus succeeded to remove approximately 400 mg/L initial phenol concentration with 61.5%, 98.7% and 100% removal yields in the medium containing 1 g/L glucose, 1 g/L apple pomace sugar and 1 g/L carrot pomace sugar respectively at pH 6. The maximum specific uptake values found were 149.64 mg/g, 261.88 mg/g and 274.29 mg/g at these conditions. The results showed that A. versicolor is a promising microorganism to tolerate higher concentrations of phenol.