Metal bioremediation and metal mining strategies can include compositions and methods.

A fungal culture is provided that incorporates concentrations of Fenton reactants and white rot fungi biomass. These components synergize to degrade recalcitrant organic compounds such as lignins, perfluorochemicals including PFOA, plastics, and related compounds, particularly with 1.5 mM H.sub.2O.sub.2, 1 mM Fe.sup.2+, and Phanerochaete chrysosporium exhibiting lignin degrading capabilities comparable to cultures of Fenton-only reaction mediums with significantly higher concentrations of hydrogen peroxide. Both the fungi and the Fenton reactants work to degrade the organic compounds. Additionally, the Fenton reactants impose oxidative stress on fast-growing microbial competitors such as E. coli, selectively inhibiting the competing bacteria and their disadvantageous effects on white rot fungi activity. The white rot fungi recycle Fe(II) ions to reduce Fenton reactant input burden. An electro-Fenton reaction process can further reduce this burden by replenishing H.sub.2O.sub.2. The resulting systems and methods demonstrate more economical and sustainable treatment of recalcitrant organic compounds.

A novel method of growing fungi is disclosed which uses an engineered artificial media and produces high density filamentous fungi biomats that can be harvested with a minimum of processing and from which fungal products such as antibiotics, proteins, and lipids can be isolated, the method resulting in lowered fungus cultivation costs for energy usage, oxygenation, water usage and waste stream production.

A novel method of growing fungi is disclosed which uses an engineered artificial media and produces high density filamentous fungi biomats that can be harvested with a minimum of processing and from which fungal products such as antibiotics, proteins, and lipids can be isolated, the method resulting in lowered fungus cultivation costs for energy usage, oxygenation, water usage and waste stream production.

A novel method of growing fungi is disclosed which uses an engineered artificial media and produces high density filamentous fungi biomats that can be harvested with a minimum of processing and from which fungal products such as antibiotics, proteins, and lipids can be isolated, the method resulting in lowered fungus cultivation costs for energy usage, oxygenation, water usage and waste stream production.

The subject invention provides safe, environmentally-friendly compositions and efficient methods for flocculation. More specifically, the subject invention provides compositions derived from microorganisms for flocculation, which can be used for increasing the rate of flocculation and/or the amount of agglomerated particles.

The invention relates to the field of degradation of fluor containing substances by bioconversion.

The subject invention provides safe, environmentally friendly compositions and efficient methods for reverse osmosis. More specifically, the subject invention provides compositions derived from microorganisms for reverse osmosis, which can be used for increasing the rate of reverse osmosis, the quality of the purified liquid resulting from reverse osmosis, the filtration efficiency of the semi-permeable reverse osmosis membrane, or any combination thereof.

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for the remediation of contaminated solids and liquids. In particular, embodiments of the present invention relate to the bioremediation of solids and liquids by a composition comprising a biocatalyst or mixture of biocatalysts. The present invention also relates to methods for producing the bioremediation compositions and methods for applying the bioremediation compositions to contaminated sites, including treatment, storage, and disposal facilities, as well as various contaminated water sources, such as aquifers and reservoirs.

A method for treating contaminated water or other contaminated media has been developed. Bioremediation enhancing agents (BEAs) such as yeast metabolites (YM) and other yeast derived products are used to facilitate microbial treatment of the contaminated material. Polysaccharides are also an effective BEA when used alone or in combination with the yeast derived products. The BEAs may work with microbes and electron donors to improve the rate of contaminant degradation and to increase the efficiency of electron donor utilization. A number of novel electron donors are also disclosed.