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Nicotine Degradation by Trametes versicolor: Insights from Diverse Environmental Stressors and Wastewater Medium

Summary

This study shows that a common mushroom fungus called Trametes versicolor can effectively break down and remove nicotine from wastewater. The research found that the fungus works best at room temperature and slightly acidic conditions, particularly when grown in wastewater-like media. The findings suggest this fungal approach could become an environmentally friendly way to clean up nicotine pollution in water systems.

Background

Nicotine is a major alkaloid in tobacco that persists in wastewater and poses significant environmental risks. White-rot fungi possess diverse enzymatic capabilities for degrading persistent pollutants. This study investigates the biodegradation potential of Trametes versicolor for nicotine removal under various environmental conditions.

Objective

To evaluate the biodegradation capacity of Trametes versicolor for naturally extracted nicotine under diverse environmental stressors including varying pH and temperature conditions. The study aimed to compare degradation efficiency in potato dextrose broth versus synthetic wastewater media.

Results

Optimal degradation occurred at 25°C and pH 5.20, particularly in synthetic wastewater medium, achieving 80-99% degradation efficiency. Synthetic wastewater outperformed conventional PDB medium. Extreme conditions (pH 2.5 at 37°C) significantly hindered fungal growth. All conditions tested showed effective fungal adaptation and nicotine degradation.

Conclusion

Trametes versicolor demonstrates remarkable potential for effective nicotine removal from wastewater through fungal-based bioremediation. Environmental parameters including temperature and pH are critical to optimizing fungal performance. The use of wastewater as a growth medium presents a sustainable approach for scaling bioremediation efforts in real-world contaminated environments.
  • Published in:Molecules,
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: PMID: 40572621
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