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Environmental and molecular approach to dye industry waste degradation by the ascomycete fungus Nectriella pironii

Summary

Researchers found that a specific fungus called Nectriella pironii can effectively break down toxic chemicals from textile industry waste, including harmful dyes and cancer-causing compounds found in landfill leachate. The fungus uses special enzymes to transform these dangerous chemicals into less toxic forms. This discovery offers hope for cleaning up contaminated areas around old textile factories and treating wastewater more effectively and affordably than current methods.

Background

Textile industry effluents contain toxic pollutants including synthetic dyes, heavy metals, and carcinogenic aromatic amines that contaminate soil and water. Current physical and chemical treatment methods are costly and inefficient. Biological degradation using adapted microorganisms offers a promising alternative for eliminating these toxic compounds.

Objective

To investigate the ascomycete fungus Nectriella pironii isolated from postindustrial textile areas for its ability to grow and degrade dye industry waste components including dyes, aromatic amines, and heavy metals present in landfill leachate.

Results

N. pironii efficiently removed azo dyes (79% decolorization of Acid Orange 7) and eliminated o-tolidine at all tested concentrations through hydroxylation to less toxic 3,3′-dihydroxybenzidine and conversion to toluidine derivatives. Laccase and cytochrome P450 enzymes were confirmed to participate in o-tolidine biotransformation, while heavy metals showed limited inhibitory effects on dye decolorization.

Conclusion

Nectriella pironii demonstrates strong potential as a fungus-based system for eliminating textile industry waste pollutants including dyes and aromatic amines. The confirmed involvement of laccase and cytochrome P450 provides foundation for developing optimized bioremediation systems for contaminated postindustrial areas.
  • Published in:Scientific Reports,
  • Study Type:Experimental Research,
  • Source: PMID: 34903810, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-03446-x
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