The Use of Fungi of the Trichoderma Genus in Anaerobic Digestion: A Review

Abstract

Plant waste biomass is the most abundant renewable energy resource on Earth. The main problem with utilising this biomass in anaerobic digestion is the long and costly stage of degrading its complex structure into simple compounds. One of the promising solutions to this problem is the application of fungi of the Trichoderma genus, which show a high capacity to produce hydrolytic enzymes capable of degrading lignocellulosic biomass before anaerobic digestion. This article discusses the structure of plant waste biomass and the problems resulting from its structure in the digestion process. It presents the methods of pre-treatment of lignocellulose with a particular focus on biological solutions. Based on the latest research findings, key parameters related to the application of Trichoderma sp. as a pre-treatment method are discussed. In addition, the possibility of using the digestate from agricultural biogas plants as a carrier for the multiplication of the Trichoderma sp. fungi, which are widely used in many industries, is discussed.