Chemical Safety Science, 2017, Volume 1, No 1, p. 168 — 176

 

Utilization and biodegradation of wastes

 

UDC 574.652                                                                                 Download PDF (RUS)

DOI: 10.25514/CHS.2017.1.11442

 

STUDY OF BIODEGRADATION OF NITROCELLULOSE USING FUNGUS FUZARIUM SOLANI

V. A. Khryachkov1, E. A. Saratovskikh2*, and R. N. Yarullin3

1Federal Governmental Research Institute “Geodezia”, Krasnoarmeysk, Moscow region, Russia

2Institute of Problems of Chemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Chernogolovka, Moscow region, Russia

3Kazan (Volga region) Federal University, Kazan’, Russia

Received March 30, 2017

Published June 26, 2017

Abstract – The results of solving the problem of cleaning up industrial waste waters of nitrocellulose (NC) manufacturing by biodegradation method are presented. The purpose of the study was to select a microorganism or a combination thereof, capable of oxidizing the persistent biopolymer – NC, to the maximum oxidation degree and as quickly as possible. In the present study, NC waste samples with a nitrogen content of 13.38 wt.% were subjected to biological oxidation using a filamentous fungus Fusarium solani. The time of incubation of the NC samples with F. solani was 5, 16, 38, and 65 days. The maximum decrease in the N content was 3%; the maximum concentration of nitrate ions formed in the solution was 11.40 μg/ml; pH values were shifted to the acidic region. The molecular mass of the NC samples reduced significantly: from 324216 (for the initial sample) to 37300. The heat release value decreased to 770 cal/g within 36 days compared to 975 cal/g for the initial sample. The greatest changes were observed after the first 5 and 16 days of incubation, which can be considered a promising result in terms of practical use of the method.

Keywords: nitrocellulose, biological oxidation, Fusarium solani, purification of industrial wastewater.