Assessment of anammox, microalgae and white-rot fungi-based processes for the treatment of textile wastewater

PLoS One. 2021 Mar 2;16(3):e0247452. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247452. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

The treatability of seven wastewater samples generated by a textile digital printing industry was evaluated by employing 1) anammox-based processes for nitrogen removal 2) microalgae (Chlorella vulgaris) for nutrient uptake and biomass production 3) white-rot fungi (Pleurotus ostreatus and Phanerochaete chrysosporium) for decolorization and laccase activity. The biodegradative potential of each type of organism was determined in batch tests and correlated with the main characteristics of the textile wastewaters through statistical analyses. The maximum specific anammox activity ranged between 0.1 and 0.2 g N g VSS-1 d-1 depending on the sample of wastewater; the photosynthetic efficiency of the microalgae decreased up to 50% during the first 24 hours of contact with the textile wastewaters, but it improved from then on; Pleurotus ostreatus synthetized laccases and removed between 20-62% of the colour after 14 days, while the enzymatic activity of Phanerochaete chrysosporium was inhibited. Overall, the findings suggest that all microbes have great potential for the treatment and valorisation of textile wastewater after tailored adaptation phases. Yet, the depurative efficiency can be probably enhanced by combining the different processes in sequence.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Ammonium Compounds / analysis
  • Ammonium Compounds / chemistry
  • Ammonium Compounds / metabolism
  • Biodegradation, Environmental
  • Biomass
  • Chlorella vulgaris / metabolism
  • Industrial Waste / analysis
  • Industrial Waste / prevention & control
  • Microalgae / metabolism
  • Phanerochaete / metabolism
  • Pleurotus / metabolism
  • Textile Industry / trends
  • Wastewater / analysis
  • Wastewater / chemistry
  • Water Purification / methods*

Substances

  • Ammonium Compounds
  • Industrial Waste
  • Waste Water

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the EU’s LIFE Programme, project LIFE16ENV/IT/000345 “LIFE DeNTreat” and Fondazione Cariplo, project “TRETILE” (project number 2017 - 1009). The funders provided support in the form of salaries for MB, RF, AM, and SV but did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Giovanni Bergna contributed to the study as a principal investigator of “LIFE DeNTreat” project and Martina Bargna collected the TW samples and helped with the coordination of the activities described in the study.