MYCOLab Ai Logo - gold and army green

Unlocking the biodegradative potential of native white-rot fungi: a comparative study of fiberbank organic pollutant mycoremediation

Summary

Swedish researchers tested 26 types of white-rot fungi to clean up polluted sediments from old pulp and paper mills called fiberbanks. These contaminated sediments contain harmful chemicals and heavy metals. The study found that three fungal species, especially Diplomitoporus crustulinus, were excellent at breaking down pollutants and could tolerate the toxic environment, making them promising for environmental cleanup efforts.

Background

Fiberbanks are fibrous sediments originating from forestry and wood pulping industries in Sweden, contaminated with toxic elements and organic pollutants including PAHs and heavy metals. These sediments pose environmental risks as pollution sources and greenhouse gas emitters. No specialized remediation methods have been established for this specific type of contaminated sediment.

Objective

To assess the growth capacity and proficiency in degrading organic pollutants of 26 native white-rot fungi species sourced from northern Swedish forests. The study aimed to identify effective fungal species for mycoremediation of fiberbank substrates containing lignocellulosic material and mixed pollutants.

Results

Fifteen WRF species demonstrated growth on fiberbank material. Laetiporus sulphureus showed highest growth at 72%, followed by Hymenochaete tabacina at 68% and Diplomitoporus crustulinus at 67%. For 2-3 ring PAH removal, Phellinus punctatus led at 68%, while Diplomitoporus crustulinus showed highest efficiency for 4-6 ring PAHs at 44% removal.

Conclusion

Three species—Diplomitoporus crustulinus, Phlebia tremellosa, and Phlebiopsis gigantea—were identified as particularly effective for large-scale bioremediation experiments. Diplomitoporus crustulinus demonstrated superior performance with high PAH removal for both low and high molecular weight compounds, emerging as a strong candidate for environmental remediation of organic pollutants.
  • Published in:Bioengineered,
  • Study Type:Comparative Experimental Study,
  • Source: 10.1080/21655979.2024.2396642
Scroll to Top