Removal of chlorophenol using a batch and airlift inner loop bioreactor using Aspergillus fumigatus

In the current study, elimination of chlorophenol by the Aspergillus fumigatus was investigated in an airlift inner loop bioreactor (ALBR). The effect of empty bed residence time (EBRT), concentration of peptone and initial chlorophenol concentration on the removal efficiency of chlorophenol was examined. Bioreactor displayed a high elimination rate of 16.59 mg/(L h) at the experimental conditions of 40 h EBRT, 150 mg/L initial chlorophenol concentration, and 0.2 g/L peptone. The removal efficiency was around 50% at 25 h EBRT. The experimental outcomes displayed that chlorophenol and removal efficiency of the bioreactor were higher at the lower concentration of peptone. Also, the Aspergillus fumigatus used chlorophenol as a carbon source, as demonstrated by the growing biomass concentration at fixed peptone concentration. The ALBR restored to the original operation after the transient condition (shutdown, restart, and shock load) and the constant reactor performance was maintained. The biological treatment of chlorophenol is one of the promising treatment techniques as it is relatively less expensive and results in degradation of contaminants.

Automated summary

This study investigated the elimination of chlorophenol by Aspergillus fumigatus in an ALBR. The results showed that the removal efficiency was higher at lower peptone concentration. The bioreactor displayed a high elimination rate under specific EBRT, initial chlorophenol concentration, and peptone concentration.