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Exploring the Potential of Fungal Biomass for Bisphenol A Removal in Aquatic Environments

Summary

Researchers discovered that mushroom fruiting bodies can effectively remove bisphenol A (BPA), a harmful plastic component, from water. Five mushroom species were particularly efficient, removing between 72-82% of BPA from solutions. The mushroom biomass works best at room temperature and neutral pH, can be reused multiple times after treatment with ethanol, and could potentially clean enormous volumes of contaminated water using small amounts of material.

Background

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a widely used plastic component with endocrine-disrupting properties that contaminates aquatic environments. Current water treatment methods are inefficient at removing BPA, necessitating development of novel sorbent materials. Fungal fruiting body biomass represents a promising, underexplored sorbent due to its high polysaccharide content and availability from mushroom production waste.

Objective

This study aimed to assess the viability of using fungal fruiting body biomass for BPA removal from aquatic environments. The research evaluated 50 cultivated and wild fungal species for BPA sorption efficiency and investigated optimal process conditions, regeneration potential, and practical applications for various water types.

Results

Five fungal species demonstrated highest efficiency: Clitocybe maxima (82%), Pholiota nameko (77%), Pleurotus columbinus (74%), Cantharellus cibarius (75%), and Lactarius deliciosus (72%). Optimal conditions were 20°C and pH 7, with rapid sorption occurring within 15-30 minutes. Ethanol regeneration recovered up to 75% of initial sorption efficiency, and 1g of sorbent could treat 8.86-10.1 m³ of wastewater, 16.5-18.7 m³ of surface water, or 411-469 m³ of drinking water.

Conclusion

Fungal fruiting body biomass shows significant potential as an effective, regenerable sorbent for BPA removal across various aquatic environments. The broad pH and temperature tolerance, combined with simple regeneration procedures, makes this approach practical for waste, surface, and drinking water treatment. This application aligns with circular economy principles by utilizing mushroom production waste.
  • Published in:International Journal of Molecular Sciences,
  • Study Type:Experimental Research,
  • Source: PMC11546519, PMID: 39518940, DOI: 10.3390/ijms252111388
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