EPA 540/MR-93/514
Fungal Treatment Bulletin
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Fungal Treatment Bulletin (14K)
ABSTRACT
Fungal Treatment Bulletin
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory and
USDA Forest Products Laboratory
Demonstration Bulletin
EPA 540/MR-93/514
June 1993
Fungal treatment technology uses white rot fungi (lignin degrading fungi)
to treat organic contaminated soils in situ. Organic materials inoculated
with the fungi are mechanically mixed into the contaminated soil. Using
enzymes normally produced for wood degradation as well as other enzyme
systems, the fungi break down soil contaminants. Moisture control is needed
and temperature and aeration may be important. This system was designed
to treat soil contaminated with chemicals found in the wood preserving
industry. These include chlorinated organics and polynuclear aromatic
hydrocarbons. A SITE demonstration was initiated in September 1991 at
the Wood Preserving site in Brookhaven, Mississippi. Site soils were contaminated
with pentachlorophenol and PAH. Study results showed that one lignin-degrading
fungus removed 89% of pentachlorophenol and 70% PAHs during a 2-month
period. A full-scale demonstration was completed in November 1992 at the
same site involving a plot of contaminated soil and 2 control plots. Initial
results showed a 70% reduction in contaminants, both in the plot containing
the fungal treatment and in the plot containing a nonfungal, organic amendment.
Unidentified, indigenous fungal species may have significantly reduced
contaminants in the nonfungal plot. About 13% of contamination was removed
from the soil-only control plot.
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Posted February 26, 1999
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