Removal of color from kraft mill wastewaters with cultures of white-rot fungi and with immobilized mycelium of Coriolus versicolor

Screening fifteen strains of white‐rot fungi for their ability to decolorize combined bleached kraft effluent showed that Coriolus versicolor in liquid culture removed over 60% of the color of the effluent within six days in the presence of sucrose. Treatment of the same effluent with this fungus, immobilized in beads of calcium alginate gel, resulted in 80% decolorization after three days in the presence of sucrose. Caustic extraction E1 effluent was also decolorized by the immobilized fungus. Decolorization was achieved more rapidly at pH 5.0 than at pH 7.0. Recycled beads could remove color efficiently and repeatedly in the presence of air but not under anaerobic conditions.