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Mycoremediation Potential of Pleurotus Species for Heavy Metals: A Review

Summary

This research examines how oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus species) can be used to clean up heavy metal pollution from the environment. These mushrooms can absorb and concentrate toxic metals from contaminated soil and water, offering a natural and cost-effective way to deal with environmental pollution. Impacts on everyday life: – Provides an eco-friendly solution for cleaning up contaminated industrial sites – Offers potential for safer food production on previously contaminated agricultural land – Reduces environmental cleanup costs compared to conventional chemical methods – Helps prevent toxic metals from entering the food chain – Creates value from mushroom farming waste by using it for environmental cleanup

Background

Heavy metal contamination of environmental segments due to indiscriminate chemical use poses risks to human health through biomagnification in the food chain. Conventional removal methods have limitations like incomplete removal, contaminated sludge generation, high costs and energy requirements. Bioremediation using biomass offers an economical and eco-friendly alternative through processes like biosorption.

Objective

This review aims to summarize previous research on the roles and mechanisms of Pleurotus species in heavy metal mycoremediation, focusing on their biosorption potential and factors affecting metal uptake and accumulation.

Results

Pleurotus species demonstrated effective biosorption of various heavy metals through mechanisms like chemisorption and ion exchange. Metal uptake varied by species and metal type. Key factors affecting biosorption included pH (optimal range 4-6), pre-treatment methods, and presence of competing ions. The fungi showed high tolerance to metals like Cd and ability to accumulate metals in fruit bodies. Heavy metals affected growth, enzyme production and regulation of laccase and manganese peroxidase activities.

Conclusion

Pleurotus species show significant promise as biosorbents for heavy metal removal, with spent mushroom substrate offering potential for mycoremediation of contaminated sites. However, multi-component sorption studies are needed as industrial wastewater contains multiple metal ions that affect sorption efficiency. The commercial potential remains to be fully exploited.
  • Published in:Bioresources and Bioprocessing,
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: 10.1186/s40643-017-0162-8
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