(Fig. 3a), the biomass growth (Fig. 3b) and the COD (Fig. 3c) of samples taken from a cultivation of the fungus strain on undiluted, twice diluted and four times diluted ITEs corresponding to increased initial concentrations of indigo dye in the ITE. Results showed that C. globosum IMA1
needs about 2 days to adapt to initial culture conditions
(Fig. 3a). The specific OUR increased significantly, from the 2nd day to the 5th day, due to the metabolism activities including mycelia growth and degradation of dyes. Therefore, it increased as the activity of biomass increased
(Fig. 3b). The higher specific OUR value of 0.82 mgO2/gTSS/minwas observed at the higher fungal activity (5th day
of culture) corresponding to the high rate of decolourization
(Fig. 3c) and COD removal
(Fig. 3d). After increasing the dye concentration in the ITE, OUR in the batch culture was higher. Therefore, increasing the indigo dye concentration up to 350 mg/L corresponding to about 700 mg equivalent COD/L has not a toxic effect on C. globosum. In contrast, it has a positive effect which results in high oxygen consumption