The use of Phanerochaete chrysosporium as an alternative bioremedia-tion tool of heavy metal, chemical oxygen demand and phosphate from landfill leachate

In this study, in order to investigate the bioremediation efficiency of Phanerochaete chrysosporium, chemical oxygen demand (COD) reduction, total phosphate levels and heavy metal (Fe2+, Mn2+, Zn2+ and Cu2+) removal were determined in five different experimental groups (control, X, Y, Z, and T) under static culture conditions containing leachate at different incubation periods (5, 10, and 20 d). At the end of the 20th day of incubation, 84% Mn2+ and Zn2+ removal was achieved in X application group. In the same application group, 90.88% COD reduction was also obtained. The lowest total phosphate value was determined as 2.63 g L–1 in T group compared with control group (5.0 g L–1). Similar improvements have been identified in other application groups in terms of metal removal, total phosphate levels and COD reduction. As a result, the findings obtained from our study show that white rot fungus P. chrysosporium can be used as an alternative biological resource in the studies for improving landfill leachate in terms of metal removal efficacy, COD and total phosphate level reduction capacity.