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PRELIMINARY MYCOREMEDIATION EVALUATION OF WASTE ASH FROM THERMAL POWER PLANT UTILISING THE OYSTER MUSHROOM

Dr. Martin Pavlik, Dr. Danica Krupova, RNDr., Dr. Lucia Ungvarska Malucka, Martin Pavlik

Abstract

ZvolenskпїЅ teplпїЅrenskпїЅ Inc. is a company that has been providing heating for the town of Zvolen for decades. After the reconstruction in 2008, it is using low-sulphur lignite, wood chips and natural gas as a fuel, resulting in fine ash, that is collected nearby; however, it is spread by natural forces into surrounding gardens, forests, soil and water. To dispose of this ash ecologically, there is a possibility of using the Oyster mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.) P. Kumm, namely its ability of absorbing the fine particles of the ash (also known as mycofiltration) and the ability to positively affect the chemical composition of the toxic waste products (mycoremediation), which has been a part of the research in Technical University in Zvolen. The aim of this research is to test the abilities of the mushroom: to grow in the area affected by the ash (a) and to positively affect the chemical composition of the waste ash (b) from the power plant. Numerous strains of Oyster mushroom (courtesy of Mykoforest Vel?ice пїЅ Martin Rajtar) have been used in this research, two of which have been selected based on the laboratory tests and applied on the test patches right on the ash deposit site. For two years, the mycelia have been growing in the substrate consisting of the waste ash and beech chips, under the conditions of the natural climate factors. The samples (overgrown by the fungus /A, B/ and the control /K/) were then harvested (from the depth of 0-5cm, 6-15 cm and 16-30cm) and analyzed in specified chemical laboratories. In order to determine the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), the researchers of Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry of Kosice macerated the samples for 24 hours in 20ml of benzene and 20ml of 99,5% methanol. The presence of PAH has been clearly proven in the methanol-macerated sample. Another chemical analyses have been conducted in the Central laboratory of Forestry in the National Forestry Center in Zvolen The most significant changes were noted during the evaluation of pH, carbon, nitrogen, also aluminium, nickel and mercury. When comparing the samples A, B and K harvested from the same substrate depths, the difference of pH, Al, As, Hg and Ni was the most apparent between samples K and A. The results are an important step towards establishing the method of extensive research focused on using the mycoremediation in the area with high concentration of power plant waste to benefit the nature and the people.

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DOI resolver: doi.org/10.5593/sgem2017h/43/s18.019

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