Exploring the potential of fungi for methane abatement: Performance evaluation of a fungal-bacterial biofilter.
Despite several fungal strains have been retrieved from methane-containing environments, the actual capacity and role of fungi on methane abatement is still unclear. The batch biodegradation tests here performed demonstrated the capacity of Graphium sp. to co-metabolically biodegrade methane and methanol. Moreover, the performance and microbiology of a fungal-bacterial compost biofilter treating methane at concentrations of ∼2% was evaluated at empty bed residence times of 40 and 20 min under different irrigation rates. The daily addition of 200 mL of mineral medium resulted in elimination capacities of 36.6 ± 0.7 g m(-3) h(-1) and removal efficiencies of ≈90% at the lowest residence time. The indigenous fungal community of the compost was predominant in the final microbial population and outcompeted the inoculated Graphium sp. during biofilter operation.
Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, School of Industrial Engineerings-venue Dr. Mergelina, University of Valladolid, Dr. Mergelina s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain. Electronic address: raquel.lebrero@iq.uva.es.
Raquel
R
Lebrero
Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, School of Industrial Engineerings-venue Dr. Mergelina, University of Valladolid, Dr. Mergelina s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain.
Juan Carlos
JC
López
Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, School of Industrial Engineerings-venue Dr. Mergelina, University of Valladolid, Dr. Mergelina s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain.
Iiro
I
Lehtinen
Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, School of Industrial Engineerings-venue Dr. Mergelina, University of Valladolid, Dr. Mergelina s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain.
Rebeca
R
Pérez
Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, School of Industrial Engineerings-venue Dr. Mergelina, University of Valladolid, Dr. Mergelina s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain.
Guillermo
G
Quijano
Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, School of Industrial Engineerings-venue Dr. Mergelina, University of Valladolid, Dr. Mergelina s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain.
Raúl
R
Muñoz
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control; D001203:Ascomycota / Q000378:metabolism*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D005374:Filtration / Q000379:methods; D008697:Methane / Q000378:metabolism*; D000432:Methanol / Q000378:metabolism; D012987:Soil
D000393:Air Pollutants; D012987:Soil; D008697:Methane; D000432:Methanol
Biofiltration; Fungal-bacterial biofilter; Graphium sp.; Greenhouse gases; Irrigation rate; Methane abatement