Fungal degradation and bioremediation system for creosote-treated wood
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
InventorsBarbara L. Illman, Vina W. Yang, Leslie A. Ferge
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Abstract
A method for degrading and/or bioremediating waste wood containing creosote using a fungal inoculum is disclosed. The fungal inoculum comprises of at least one creosote-tolerant fungi, a lignocellulosic substrate and a nutrient supplement. The fungal inoculum is applied to the waste wood and maintained in an aerated and hydrated environment having temperature conditions sufficient to allow the inoculum to grow and metabolize the creosote. The inoculum and the waste wood are combined until an end product is achieved that is at least partially remediated or of a reduced volume.
Claims11
A method for bioremediating wood containing creosote comprising the steps of:
- inoculating wood containing creosote with a fungal inoculum comprising at least one creosote-tolerant fungus, at least one lignocellulosic substrate and at least one nutrient supplement, the lignocellulosic substrate and the nutrient supplement in an amount sufficient to produce a biomass of the fungal inoculum sufficient to at least partially remediate the creosote;
- and
- aerating and hydrating the inoculated wood for a time and under conditions sufficient to allow the fungal inoculum to remediate the creosote.
A method for degrading wood containing creosote comprising the steps of:
- inoculating wood containing creosote with a fungal inoculum comprising at least one creosote-tolerant fungus, at least one lignocellulosic substrate and at least one nutrient supplement, the lignocellulosic substrate and nutrient supplement in an amount sufficient to produce a biomass of the fungal inoculum sufficient to degrade the wood;
- and
- aerating and hydrating the inoculated wood for a time and under conditions sufficient to allow the fungal inoculum to degrade the wood to reach a degradation product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.