Factors Essential for Optimzing Solid Waste Degradation and Recycling Using Edible White Rot Fungi

Abstract

Edible white rot fungi (EWRF) have been proposed for solid waste processing involving degradation of the lignocellulosic material and further recycling of food wastes and astronaut biosolids. Use of EWRF in solid waste processing is advantageous in that an edible product, the mushroom, is produced that adds variety to the restrictive diet of the astronaut during extended crewed missions. To optimize the efficiency of EWRF, key parameters (strains, N source, cropping pattern, growth medium/substrate amendment) controlling the biological process were examined under laboratory conditions. Various strains of Lentinula edodes and Grifola frondosa were evaluated in artificial culture media amended with human biosolid or food waste. Mycelial growth in strains of Pleurotus ostreatus and Lentinula edodes were measured on single and paired crop substrates. Enhancement of fungal growth by enriching the medium with KNO\d3, NH\d4Cl and urea and incorporation of solid thermophilic aerobic reactor (STAR) sludge in rice straw, as nitrogen sources, was determined. Significant growth differences were observed between G. frondosa strains in media added with either KNO\d3 or NH\d4Cl sources of nitrogen. P. ostreatus 'Grey Dover' was most prolific in growth and mushroom production in various crop residues. The use of EWRF may be a cost-effective way to accomplish solid waste processing in an ALS system that requires low-cost technologies applicable to the reduction of Equivalent System Mass (ESM), a major requisite for long- term space exploration or habitation.

Comments

Presented at International Conference On Environmental Systems, July 2005, Rome, ITALY, Session: Physico-Chemical Life Support Process Development IV

Date of this Version

July 2005

Identifier

ALS-NSCORT:p40

Publisher Identifier:

SAE Document Number: 2005-01-3085

Publisher

SAE International

ALS NSCORT Project Number

Project 12 - Fungi for Crop Waste Degradation/Edible Mushroom Production

Project Lead

Caula A. Beyl

Language

English

ALS NSCORT Series

Published Materials

Administrative Contact

Dave Kotterman, dkotter@purdue.edu

Rights

Copyright 2005 SAE International. For additional information please visit the intellectual property section of the publisher's website: http://www.sae.org/about/intelproperty/ or the publisher's home page at: http://www.sae.org

Access

This article is not available through e-pubs. To purchase a copy of this article visit: http://www.sae.org/technical/papers/2005-01-3085. This article is available on CD-ROM at Purdue University's Engineering Library.

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