Degradation of high molecular weight compounds of Kraft pulp mill effluents by a combined treatment with fungi and bacteria

Pretreatment of Kraft pulp mill effluents by mycelial pellets or extracellular ligninolytic liquid from Phanerochaete chrysosporium enhanced the anaerobic degradation of high molecular weight (HMW) compounds up to 79% and 72% respectively, against 45% when only anaerobic digestion was considered. Decolourization was obtained only after fungal pretreatment, since both anaerobic digestion and ligninolytic liquid pretreatment of Kraft effluent slightly increased colour.