DECOLORIZATION OF ION-EXCHANGE EFFLUENTS DERIVED FROM SUGAR-MILL OPERATIONS BY BJERKANDERA SP. BOS55

The decolorization of ion-exchange effluents derived from sugar-mill o perations by Bjerkandera sp. BOS55 has been studied. Bjerkandera sp. B OS55 was selected as a possible effective microorganism because of its high ligninolytic activity enabling the degradation of toxic pollutan ts. Fungal biomass in pellet form allowed a good decolorization up to 78% after 8 days of incubation. Pellets remain uncolored after the tre atment, and no adsorption of chromophoric groups on mycelia was observ ed. This suggests that a biological transformation affecting the chemi cal composition of such compounds took place. Molecular weight distrib ution indicated a polymerization of chromophoric groups after fungal t reatment. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.