Removal of Phenol by Immobilization of Trametes versicolor in Silica–Alginate–Fungus Biocomposites and Loofa Sponge

Abstract

Research Article Removal of Phenol by Immobilization of Trametes versicolor in Silica-Alginate-Fungus Biocomposites and Loofa SpongeWhite-rot fungi have potential in organic pollutant degradation. Immobilization of microorganisms has been successfully used for bioremediation. In this work, 25 isolates of Argentinean white-rot fungi were tested for their tolerance toward up to 10 mM phenol in agar plates. Seven isolates were further evaluated for their ability to grow on plates with 2,6-dimethoxyphenol, gallic acid, 2,4-dichlorophenol, or guaiacol (7.5 mM), or with phenol as sole carbon source. Best results were obtained with Trametes versicolor, Irpex lacteus, Lentinus tigrinus, and Pleurotus lindquistii. The ability of immobilized cultures of T. versicolor BAFC 2234 to remove phenol, was studied. Silica-alginate-fungus biocomposites resulted in phenol removal (10 mM) of up to 48% (mainly attributable to biosorption) within 14 days. Immobilized on Luffa aegyptica, it removed between 62 and 74% of phenol (15 mM) in three repeated cycles over a period of 23 days. Laccase was the main oxidative enzyme detected, and the purified enzyme oxidized 84% of phenol (0.5 mM) in vitro within 4 h, while 43% was converted by a purified Mn-peroxidase. The phenol phytotoxicity decreased noticeably. The concentrations of phenol removed are among the highest reported so far, thus this strain of T. versicolor may have good prospects for application in industrial wastewater treatment.

Laccases: structure, function, and potential application in water bioremediation

“…Crude extract enzyme immobilizedDegradation of emerging endocrine disruptor (bisphenol A)800 μL McIlvaine buffer (pH 3), 100 µL of ABTS (5 mM, 1.0% w/v) and 100 µL of laccase extract of P. sanguineus (CS43)100% degradation of bisphenol A (20 mg/L) was achieved in less than 24 hProbably degradation ends in the formation of 4-isopropenylphenol[42] Trametes versicolor BAFC 2234MI7-days cultures in 30-L STR with complex liquid medium (50% tomato juice). Purified enzymesIn vitro oxidation of phenolThe reaction mixture in 1.5-mL contained dissolved phenol (0.5 mM), 50 mM sodium citrate pH 4.5 and 0.1 U/mL laccase84% phenol removal in 4 h. Dark colored products partly precipitated were foundOxidative coupling of phenoxy radicals as major pathway of phenol conversion[43] Recombinant laccase from Trametes sanguineus in Trichoderma atroviride FCultures grown in 50 mL, incubated for 4 days at 28 °C/150 rpm. Purified laccaseDegradation of xenobiotic compounds (phenanthrene and benzo[α]pyrene)Phenanthrene and benzo[α]pyrene were added into supernatants up to at 10 ppm, incubated at 28 °C and shaken at 150 rpm for 24 h57.5 U/L of laccase in supernatant removed phenanthrene and benzo[α]pyrene (97 and 99% respectively) present in wastewater from a biofuel industry plantNot reported[67] Nicotiana tabacum expressing a laccase from Pleurotus ostreatus CPlants were grown for 16 days in a growing chamber at 24 °C under a photoperiod of 16:8 h (light:darkness).…”

“…Fungal laccases aid bioremediation through the oxidation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) [39, 40], plastics and phenolic compounds [41–44], dyes [44–48], and the degradation of pharmaceutically active compounds [49–52], among others (Table 1). Given that laccases from white-rot fungi have the potential for phenolic compound degradation, different studies have involved the immobilization of microorganisms, such as T. versicolor , into silica-alginate and loofa sponges as supports for phenol removal [43]. While crude extract from Trametes pubescens has been used for the degradation of chlorophenols (Table 1) [44].…”

“…Therefore, heterologous laccase expression has become a promising alternative [23, 59–71]. Heterologous expression of many fungal laccases has been reported in bacteria such as E. coli [60], yeasts like Pichia pastoris and Yarrowia lipolytica [43, 61–64], filamentous fungi such as Aspergillus oryzae , A. niger , and Trichoderma atroviride [65–67], and plants like Arabidopsis thaliana and Zea mays (Table 1) [68, 69]. Yeasts and filamentous fungi are usually more attractive hosts for heterologous protein production owing to their faster microbial growth, ease of gene manipulation, their ability to secrete large amounts of proteins into the growth medium, as well as the ability to perform post-translational modifications [30, 49].…”

Assessing the ability of white-rot fungi to tolerate polychlorinated biphenyls using predictive mycology

“…Different screening techniques were carried out to select strains with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, dyes and phenols biodegradation capabilities (Levin et al 2004; Matsubara et al 2006; Lee et al 2014; Carabajal et al 2016). However, plate screening has not been yet evaluated as a quick technique to select strains capable of tolerating and degrading PCBs.…”

Viability of Hydrocarbon-degrading Bacterial Consortium Immobilized on Different Carriers

“…Several studies have reported enhanced petroleum hydrocarbon degradation by immobilized hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria compared to free-living cells [17,18]. This observation has increase the interest in immobilization of microbial cells for bioremediation purposes.…”