Bioremediation of phenol from tannery effluents by Syncephalastrum racemosum.

Experiments had been conducted for extraction of phenol from liquid phase (tannery and other industrial effluents) by filamentous fungus Syncephalastrum racemosum. In this study the fungal strain was maintained at 25±2°C in PDA plates. Studies were carried out to evaluate the effect of pH, temperature, fungal biomass concentration and initial phenol dose. Maximum phenol biodegradation capacity was seen at 28±2°C and at pH 8.The fungus was able to adsorb phenol upto 300mg/L. The phenol adsorption increased with increase of initial phenol concentrations. The percentage phenol removal was analysed spectrophotometrically. It was concluded that the fungal strain of S.racemosum can be used as a phenol biosorbent.