Use of sugarcane bagasse pith as solid substrate for P-chrysosporium growth

Phanerochaete chrysosporium strain H-298 grown on sugarcane bagasse pith, a lignocellulosic residue, is proposed as a bioremediation agent for aromati c contaminated soils. To investigate the use of pith for the development of a fungal inoculum, the effect of culture conditions on fungus survival and microbial respiration under solid fermentation were studied. Microbial res piration, estimated from the CO2 evolution rates, was maintained relatively high at low aeration conditions. High respiration occurred in cultures wit h 2,2-dimethylsuccinate added and without buffers, but not in those with ac etate, succinate and phosphate buffers. It was observed that the culture wa s autobuffered at pH 45, due to acetic acid release, and that moisture cont ent increased from 60 to 70 %; these conditions were appropriate for fungal cultivation. CO2 evolution rates and fluorescence analysis showed that fun gal survival was maintained through 18 d.