| The potential use of fungal mycelium for reducing waterborne pathogenic bacteria was investigated. Pleurotus ostreatus spent mushroom waste (SMW) and non-mycelium sawdust (NMS) were compared for Escherichia coli removal in saturated batch reactors. Both substrates were saturated in diluted municipal wastewater, and E. coli concentrations were monitored. Concentrations were reduced over the first hour in SMW and NMS bioreactor cells by 55% and 24%, respectively (maximum reductions). However, E. coli in both substrates increased exponentially thereafter. In further tests, exposure to steam-sterilized SMW and autoclave-sterilized SMW reduced waterborne E. coli over one hour by 23% and 35%, respectively. The greater reductions observed in the non-sterilized SMW indicated that biotic factors related to the living mycelium may be important in the treatment effect. While SMW shows some potential for wastewater treatment, the tendency for E. coli to increase exponentially in saturated conditions may preclude its use for this purpose. |
