Simultaneous laccase production and color removal by culturing fungus Pycnoporus sp. SYBC-L3 in a textile wastewater effluent supplemented with a lignocellulosic waste Phragmites australis.

We conducted experiments to culture Pycnoporus sp. SYBC-L3 in a medium comprising an industrial waste (dye-containing textile effluent) and a lignocellulosic waste (Phragmites australis) that achieved laccase production while having the color removed from the wastewater. Our experimental results showed that the fungus grew well in liquid submerged cultivation with the diluted textile effluent as the sole culture medium, but relatively low extracellular laccase activity (1.8 U/mL) was produced. Addition of the lignocellulosic biomass enhanced laccase production and color removal. The highest laccase activity was found to be 6.5 U/mL in the presence of Phragmites australis stem. Under this condition, 70 % color removal occurred in the culture medium. This study provided an alternative novel scheme to remove color in textile wastewater while having an economic value added by producing laccase.