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Mycoremediation of Flotation Tailings with Agaricus bisporus

Summary

Researchers investigated whether common button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) can help clean up polluted industrial waste from copper mining. They grew mushrooms on compost mixed with contaminated flotation tailings at different concentrations and measured which elements the mushrooms accumulated. The mushrooms successfully absorbed certain metals and elements, suggesting they could be useful for environmental cleanup, though more testing is needed before using them in real industrial applications.

Background

Mycoremediation using macromycetes is an eco-friendly bioremediation technique that leverages fungal enzymatic activity and bioaccumulation capacity. Agaricus bisporus, the most commercially cultivated mushroom, represents an ideal candidate for practical remediation applications due to its widespread availability and cultivation.

Objective

To evaluate the mycoremediation ability of A. bisporus cultivated on compost mixed with flotation tailings at varying concentrations and determine the content of 51 major and trace elements in fruit bodies to assess both biomass yield and element accumulation.

Results

First flush biomass decreased with increasing flotation tailings addition, while second flush showed increased biomass at moderate additions. A. bisporus selectively accumulated elements, demonstrating BAF > 1 for B, Cu, K, Se, Ag, and platinum group elements, while showing limited accumulation of toxic elements except Ag, As, and Cd.

Conclusion

A. bisporus demonstrates potential for practical mycoremediation applications in the industry, particularly for substrates contaminated with selectively accumulated elements. However, larger-scale tests are necessary, and careful consideration of As and Cd concentrations is required before applying this technique to post-flotation sediments.
  • Published in:Journal of Fungi,
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: PMID: 36012872, DOI: 10.3390/jof8080883
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