Showing 6 results for Fungi
R Khosravi, G.r Moussavi, Sh. Roudbar Mohammadi,
Volume 4, Issue 4 (3-2012)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Effluent generated in several industries contains phenolic compounds, which have been classified as priority pollutants. Due to its toxicity, the conventional systems are inefficient for treatment of phenol-Laden wastewater. Biological processes using pure microbial culture, including fungi and yeast, are environmentally friendly techniques capable of complete destruction of contaminants.
Materials and Methods: This work was aimed at investigating the efficiency of a fungi specie in the decomposition of high concentrations of phenol ranging from 500 to 20000 mg/L. Several batch reactors were operated at different phenol concentration. The concentration of residual phenol was monitored over time using colorimetric method 4-aminoantipyrine. The removal efficiency was calculated considering the initial phenol concentration.
Results: Experimental data indicated that the phenol could efficiently degrade using the selected culture. The developed granules could completely degrade phenol at concentrations up to 20000 mg/L.
Conclusion: It can be concluded from the experimental data that the biodegradation using the Fungi granules is a very efficient and thus promising technique for treatment of wastewaters containing phenolic compounds.
Mahdi Jahangiri, Masoud Neghab, Vahid Kahdemain, Reza Rostami, Ali Karimi, Mandana Aghabeigi, Abasali Kasayee Nasab,
Volume 6, Issue 1 (5-2013)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Wastewater contains various pathogens including viruses, bacteria, fungi, etc. These microorganisms can easily become airborne during normal operations of wastewater treatment plant and contaminate the neighborhood environment. The aim of this study was to investigate the type and density of bioaerosols in a petrochemical wastewater treatment plant in Iran.
Materials and Methods: In this cross sectional study, bioaerosols density was measured in different units of a petrochemical wastewater treatment plant according to the NIOSH 0800 method and the values measured were compared with background level (control area). For this purpose, air samples were collected on blood agar and dextro agar in Andersen single-stage sampler with air flow of 28.3 l/min for 10 minutes. Samples collected were shipped to the laboratory immediately and were incubated for 48 hours. Then, incubated samples were counted for colonies concentration.
Results: Average concentration of bacteria and fungi bioaerosols measured were 731.70±185.49 and 28.43±10.58 (M±SD) CFU/m3 respectively throughout the wastewater treatment plant units. These values were 35 and 1.45 times higher than background level (Control area). The differences between average concentrations of bacteria in all units of wastewater treatment plant with control area were statistically significant.
Conclusions: Generally, it was found that the density of bioaerosols, especially bacteria was much higher than the background level. The maximum density was measured at aeration chamber, where the emission of bioaerosols could be reduced through replacing nozzle diffused aeration system.
Negar Darvishzadeh, Farideh Golbabaee, Mohammadreza Pourmand, Farideh Zeini, Abbas Rahimi Foroushani,
Volume 6, Issue 1 (5-2013)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Microorganisms are the agents that can cause disruption in the biochemical and physiological reactions through mechanisms such as infection, allergy or toxic properties in the case of entering human body and if the body’s immune system be unable to destroy and eliminate biological agents, illness and even death will occur. This study evaluates air pollution (aerosol and bioaerosol) in different parts of a hospital in Tehran.
Materials and Methods: We assessed and evaluated bioaerosols by applying 0800 NIOSH method using Bacterial sampler and specific cultures for bacteria and fungi separately in ICU (intensive care unit), Pathology laboratory, Operating room, Recovery, and CSR (Central Service Room) of a hospital.
Results: The assessment showed that the average density of bacteria in the hospital studied was in the range of 1226.88 - 294.47 CFU/m3 the highest density was observed in the CSR and the lowest density measured was in the operating room. The bacteria identified included gram-positive bacillus (50.6%), Staphylococcus epidermis (20.29%), Staphylococcus Saprophyticus (2.6%), Staphylococcus aureus (7.03%), other Staphylococcus (5.9%) and Micrococcus (13.43%). Moreover, it was found that the average density of fungi was in the range of 0-188.45 CFU/m3 the maximum density in ICU and the minimum density in operating room and recovery room. The fungi identified included Aspergillus flavus (31.65%), Aspergillus fomigatus (25.17%), Aspergillus niger (15.82%), and penicilliom (27.33%) .
Conclusion: Comparison of bacteria density in different parts of the hospital with the recommended limits of ACGIH (500 CFU/m3) showed that density exceeded the limits in all units except in operating room whereas, density of fungi was less than the recommended limits of ACGIH (100 CFU/m3) in all units of hospital.
Mostafa Leili, Gholamreza Moussavi, Kazem Nadafi, Rasoul Khosravi,
Volume 6, Issue 2 (9-2013)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Furfural with a chemical formula of C5H4O2 is a toxic and hazardous substance for human and environment. Furfural and its derivatives such as furfuryl alcohol, alone or in combination with phenol, acetone or urea are used mainly in the production of resin. The second major application of furfural is in the production of solvents such furan and tetrafuran frequently used as a selective solvent in the production, treatment, and refining lubricants from petroleum products. A few studies have recently been done in terms of removal or recovery of furfural. Due to advantages of biological methods, the uses of theses environmentally friendly methods are being investigated in this study.
Materials and Methods: We used cyclic biological reactor (CBR) and Fusarium culmorum granules to biologically degrade different concentration of furfural and equivalent of COD under different operating conditions. The analysis was based on the measurement of furfural degradation efficiency during operational period using spectrophotometer and measuring influent and effluent COD variations using a closed reflux method.
Results: cyclic biological reactor was operated in various flow rate (Q) of furfural-containing wastewater for a different period. For all of the flow rate used, furfural degradation and COD removal efficiency was over 99 and 90 percent respectively. Fusarium culmorum granules were also exposed to different concentrations of furfural at different incubation temperatures showing high furfural removal capacity. Conclusion: Under different operating conditions of biological systems, high removal efficiency of furfural was observed, but CBR in comparison with Fusarium culmorum granules reached the optimum and desired removal efficiency in shorter time. Therefore, these systems can be developed and replaced with chemical methods to treat furfural containing wastewater.
Reza Shokoohi, Salah Azizi, Said Amir Ghiasian, Javad Fredmal,
Volume 7, Issue 2 (10-2014)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is an organic compound and phenolic derivatives categorized as priority pollutants that have harmful effects on humans, animals, and plants in low concentrations. Therefore, PCP removal from water and wastewater is very important. The aim of this study was to assess the efficiency of A. niger fungus biomass in PCP absorption. Materials and Methods: This was an experimental study in which different steps of the experiments were performed. A. niger strain was prepared from Persian Type Culture Collection of Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology (IROST). After activation in potato dextrose agar (PDA) culture plates, fungi were incubated for 7 to 10 days at 25 °C. The prepared A. niger biomass was modified by NaOH and then it was used for PCP absorption assay. The concentration of PCP was measured using high-performance liquid chromatography. Results: The findings of present study showed that contact time is an important and effective factor in the PCP absorption rate. Two hours was selected as the optimum retention time in this experiment and after that the removal percentage did not raise significantly. The results of PCP absorption in different pH demonstrated that the adsorption efficiency decreases by rising pH and initial PCP concentration. The effects of contact time, pH and initial PCP concentration on the absorption process was significant (P-value <0.001). Conclusion: The results show that absorption efficiency increases by rising retention time under constant conditions. In addition, at low pH the modified A. niger biomass could be a good absorber for PCP.
Fariba Abbasi, Mohammad Reza Samaei, Mahrokh Jalili, Hosein Khodadadi, Ali Karimi,
Volume 13, Issue 4 (2-2021)
Abstract
Background and Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of seasonal variation on the diversity of fungal airborne species in the composting process.
Materials and Methods: Samples were taken based on the 0800 NIOSH method at a height of 1.5 m above the ground during the waste separation, turning of windrow and stabilization of compost. Air samples were collected in two various seasons; summer (108 samples) and winter (108 samples) at the composting plant in Shiraz. The culture media consisted of Sabouraud Dextrose Agar with chloramphenicol for the selective isolation of fungi, which was further incubated at 37 and 45°C. The results were analyzed by a t-test method using MATLAB 2018.
Results: The highest mesophilic fungi density was related to the segregation process of composting. The variation of fungi observed was higher during summer throughout separation and stabilization process (p < 0.05). The predominant species were found to be Aspergillus flavus (4449.8 CFU/m3) (p < 0.05) and Paecilomyces (1850.9 CFU/m3) (p < 0.05), respectively. Furthermore, the highest varieties of fungal species in the turning of windrow mass were observed during winter (p < 0.05) and the predominant species was yeast (420.6 CFU/m3). At all stages of composting, the varieties of thermophilic fungal species were higher during summer with the large number of Aspergillus fumigatus, Mucoral, and Paecilomyces.
Conclusion: The density and diversity of mesophilic fungi during summer was higher than winter. The concentration of Aspergillus, was beyond the guidelines set by the EPA, ACGIH, NIOSH and EU. Thus, the use of self-protection is essential.
