Optimization of White-Rot Fungi Mycelial Culture Components for Bioremediation of Pharmaceutical-Derived Pollutants

Abstract

White-rot fungi can degrade a wide spectrum of environmental pollutants, including pharmaceuticals, which are not efficiently removed from wastewater by conventional methods, e.g., the activated sludge method. However, the treatment of wastewater with the use of fungal cultures (mycoremediation) also has significant limitations: among others, the need to use appropriate, often-expensive culture media. We aimed to screen 18 media ingredients, including seven agrifood byproducts for Armillaria mellea, Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Pleurotus ostreatus in submerged cultures to select the low-cost medium optimal for biomass production and laccase activity. We screened nine mathematic models to describe the relation of fungal growth and the amount of the selected byproduct in media. Finally, we tested the ability of the strain with the highest mycelial growth and enzyme-producing ability in the selected medium to degrade eight drug contaminants. Three media variants composed of byproducts provided both efficient growth and laccase production: corn steep liquor + poplar, dried distillers grains with solubles + poplar and corn steep liquor 50%. Among the investigated growth models, the Han–Levenspiel equation described well the specific growth rate in function of the nominal substrate concentration in one-component media. Pleurotus ostreatus, the fungus with the highest ligninolytic enzyme activity, cultured in medium composed of corn steep liquor, removed six of eight drug contaminants with a removal degree of 20–90% in 48 h. The obtained data on the optimal culture media consisting of insoluble components provide initial data for upscaling the process and designing an appropriate type of bioreactor for the process of removing drug contaminants from water.

Ketoprofen as an emerging contaminant: occurrence, ecotoxicity and (bio)removal

“…Among fungi, white-rot fungi have gained significant popularity in bioremediation efforts ( Bulai et al, 2018 ; Sośnicka et al, 2022 ). Representatives of Trametes spp., Pleurotus spp., Phanerochaete spp., Irpex spp.…”

“…Representatives of Trametes spp., Pleurotus spp., Phanerochaete spp., Irpex spp. have already proven themselves as promising biodegraders of pharmaceutical pollutants, including NSAIDs ( Kum et al, 2009 ; Marco-Urrea et al, 2009 , 2010 ; Hata et al, 2010 ; Rodarte-Morales et al, 2011 ; Nguyen et al, 2013 ; Sośnicka et al, 2022 ). In a study by Haroune et al (2017) , Trametes hirsuta IBB 450 degraded most (90%) of the 100 μg/L mixture of NSAIDs (acetaminophen, ibuprofen, indomethacin, KTP, mefenamic acid, and naproxen) within a 48-h experiment.…”

The Bioremediation of Industrial Effluents by Phanerochaete chrysosporium: The COD, TOC Removal Efficiency and Biochemical Assessment for Dreissena polymorpha

“…Biochemical parameters of D. polymorpha exposed to industrial wastewater before and after bioremediation P. chrysosporium are shown in Figures 3,4,5,6,7.…”

“…As a result of the ease of characterization processes of the obtained species, which toxic elements these species can use as a food source can be quickly determined by both new experimental studies and literature research [4] . White rot fungi have also been found to be able to remove a wide variety of environmental effluents, including pharmaceuticals, that cannot be efficiently removed from wastewater by conventional methods [5] . The removal of xenobiotics from the environment in the bioremediation process performed by white rot fungi is a process based on adsorption and/or enzymatic activity on the fungal biomass [6]…”

“…[4] White rot fungi have also been found to be able to remove a wide variety of environmental effluents, including pharmaceuticals, that cannot be efficiently removed from wastewater by conventional methods. [5] The removal of xenobiotics from the environment in the bioremediation process performed by white rot fungi is a process based on adsorption and/or enzymatic activity on the fungal biomass. [6] Bioremediation is the complete breakdown or conversion of organic pollutants into water and carbon dioxide or less dangerous forms with the help of microorganisms.…”