Forming mycelium pellet and decolorization of dye wastewater under opening conditions

Removal of three water-soluble dyes through biosorption of four fungal strains was investigated. Some key factors affecting the formation of pellets and removal of dye under opening conditions was examined and the possibility of repeated inoculation of pellets was evaluated. The results show that removal of acid brilliant red B by 4 strains was almost 100%; the removal of all three tested dyes by Trichoderma sp. was more than 99%. Trichoderma sp. formed pellets well under opening conditions when its fragmentized mycelium obtained by 3 min grinding pellets at high concentration was inoculated, as 100% removal of acid brilliant red B was achieved by biosorption of newly growing pellets. Repeated inoculation of pellets accelerated dye removal, time for 100% decolorization reduced from first inoculation 72 h to third inoculation 12 h.