Stability of fungal biomass continuously fed with tannic acid in a non-sterile moving-packed bed reactor

A number of bacteria and fungi are known to degrade tannins. In this study, the efficiency of the white-rot fungus, Bjerkandera adusta MUT 2295, was evaluated for the treatment of a synthetic solution prepared with tannic acid. Tests were performed in continuously fed, bench-scale, packed-bed reactors, operated under non sterile conditions with biomass immobilized within PolyUrethane Foam cubes (PUFs). The main parameters monitored to evaluate the process efficiency were: soluble Chemical Oxygen Demand (sCOD), Total Organic Carbon (TOC) removal, and activities. of Tannase and Lignin Peroxidase. At the end of the process, additional parameters were evaluated, including the increase of fungal dry weight and the presence of ergosterol. The reactor was operative for 210 days, with maximum sCOD and TOC removal of 81% and 73%, respectively. The reduction of sCOD and TOC were positively correlated with the detection of Tannase and Lignin Peroxidase (LiP) activities. Increases in biomass within the PUF cubes was associated with increases in ergosterol concentrations. This study proved that the fungal-based system tested was efficient for the degradation of tannic acid over a period of time, and under non-sterile conditions.