New urethane prepolymer immobilized fungal bioreactor for decolorization and dechlorination of kraft bleach effluents

A new fluidized bed bioreactor system containing urethane prepolymer immobilized Trametes versicolor can successfully decolorize and dechlorinate kraft bleach plant effluents. Color reduction ranging from 72-80% and AOX reduction ranging from 52-59% is possible from a continuous bioreactor at a residence time of 24 h. The decolorization process was linearly depedent on the concentration of glucose cosubstrate up to a level of 0.8% by weight. Color reduction followed first-order kinetics in the fluidized bioreactor. Application : The system described offers promise for use as a biotreatment process for decolorization and dechlorination of bleach plant effluents.