Rotating biological contactor, Remazol Brilliant Blue R, Pleurotus ostreatus, Irpex lacteus, Trametes suaveolens F1

Rotating biological contactor (RBC) was used for the degradation of recalcitrant textile RBBR dye by ligninolytic fungi Pleurotus ostreatus, Irpex lacteus and Trametes suaveolens F1. All three strains degraded the dye efficiently and could be used repeatedly in consequent degradation cycles. P. ostreatus decreased the growth medium pH in 1st degradation cycle. By adjusting the pH value with dimethyl succinate a more rapid and effective degradation was attained in 2nd degradation cycle. The best degradation efficiency of 100 % in 1st cycle was achieved by I. lacteus. In the two following cycles, however, the degradation process slowed down but the efficiency still was kept at 98 %. Four degradation cycles were accomplished with the fungus T. suaveolens F1. The highest degradation efficiency of 89 % was obtained in 2nd cycle after 12 days. A significant decrease of efficiency occurred in 4th cycle to reach only 49 %. The degradation was monitored by measuring the levels of the extracellular, MnP, Lac and LiP enzymes. The fungal RBC reactor is considered to be promising for remediation of wastewater contaminated with persistent textile dyes.