Filamentous fungi for sustainable remediation of pharmaceutical compounds, heavy metal and oil hydrocarbons

Abstract

This review presents a comprehensive summary of the latest research in the field of bioremediation with filamentous fungi. The main focus is on the issue of recent progress in remediation of pharmaceutical compounds, heavy metal treatment and oil hydrocarbons mycoremediation that are usually insufficiently represented in other reviews. It encompasses a variety of cellular mechanisms involved in bioremediation used by filamentous fungi, including bio-adsorption, bio-surfactant production, bio-mineralization, bio-precipitation, as well as extracellular and intracellular enzymatic processes. Processes for wastewater treatment accomplished through physical, biological, and chemical processes are briefly described. The species diversity of filamentous fungi used in pollutant removal, including widely studied species of Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, Verticillium, Phanerochaete and other species of Basidiomycota and Zygomycota are summarized. The removal efficiency of filamentous fungi and time of elimination of a wide variety of pollutant compounds and their easy handling make them excellent tools for the bioremediation of emerging contaminants. Various types of beneficial byproducts made by filamentous fungi, such as raw material for feed and food production, chitosan, ethanol, lignocellulolytic enzymes, organic acids, as well as nanoparticles, are discussed. Finally, challenges faced, future prospects, and how innovative technologies can be used to further exploit and enhance the abilities of fungi in wastewater remediation, are mentioned.

Filamentous Fungi as Bioremediation Agents of Industrial Effluents: A Systematic Review

“…Fungi also possess advantages over bacteria, as fungal hyphae can penetrate contaminated soil, accessing not only heavy metals but also xenobiotic compounds [67]. The pathway typically involves enzymatic reactions (extracellular and intracellular enzymatic processes) that modify the chemical structure of the xenobiotic, making it more amenable to microbial metabolism [68].…”

“…While enzymatic activities are the most well-known processes among microorganisms, there are several alternative strategies that can be employed. These include cometabolism, plasmid-mediated degradation, evolution of catabolic pathways, adaptation to environmental conditions, bio-adsorption, biosurfactant production, bio-mineralization, and bio-precipitation [30,68,69].…”

Trichoderma Inoculation Alleviates Cd and Pb-Induced Toxicity and Improves Growth and Physiology of Vigna radiata (L.)

“…Fungi can resist and detoxify HMs by several mechanisms, including precipitation, biosorption, complexation, intracellular compartmentation, sequestration chemical modification, reduced intake, or efflux . Biomineralization or bioprecipitation are other mechanisms by which filamentous fungi neutralize the harmful substances/metals …”

Heavy Metal Remediation by Dry Mycelium Membranes: Approaches to Sustainable Lead Remediation in Water

“…However, these methods are expensive and often entail excessive use of chemicals, leading to secondary contaminations. More recently, bioremediation is being explored as a sustainable, nonhazardous remediation approach, utilizing a range of microorganisms, including fungi , to detoxify heavy metals from natural environments. Mycelium, the root network of mushrooms, has been hailed as nature’s best toxicant adsorbent and has been shown to contribute actively to heavy metal remediation. , Fungi can initiate biological processes that convert organic complexes and oxidation states of heavy metals into less toxic or more stable forms, , significantly lowering their bioavailability.…”