Chromium recycling of tannery waste through microbial fermentation.
An Aspergillus carbonarius isolate, selected from an established microbial culture collection, was used to study the biodegradation of chromium shavings in solid-state fermentation experiments. Approximately 97% liquefaction of the tannery waste was achieved and the liquid obtained from long-term experiments was used to recover chromium. The resulting alkaline chromium sulfate solution was useful in tanning procedures. A proteinaceous liquid was also obtained which has potential applications as a fertilizer or animal feed additive and has several other industrial uses. The A. carbonarius strain proved to be a very useful tool in tannery waste-treatment processes and chromium recovery in the tanning industries.
Katsifas
E A
EA
Department of Botany, Faculty of Biology, University of Athens, 157 81, Athens, Greece.
Giannoutsou
E
E
Lambraki
M
M
Barla
M
M
Karagouni
A D
AD
D001230:Aspergillus / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002857:Chromium / Q000378:metabolism*; D005285:Fermentation; D007218:Industrial Microbiology / Q000379:methods*; D017744:Medical Waste Disposal; D013633:Tanning / Q000379:methods*
D017744:Medical Waste Disposal; D002857:Chromium