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

Summary

Scientists tested whether a type of fungus called Trametes versicolor could break down nicotine pollution in wastewater. They found that the fungus successfully removed 80-99% of nicotine, especially when grown at comfortable temperatures (25°C) and neutral pH levels in wastewater-like solutions. This research suggests fungi could offer an affordable, environmentally-friendly way to clean up nicotine contamination in water systems, which is important since traditional wastewater treatments don’t completely remove nicotine.

Background

Nicotine is a major alkaloid in tobacco that poses significant environmental risks due to its persistence in wastewater and water bodies. Conventional wastewater treatment plants do not completely eliminate nicotine, leaving residues in treated effluent. White-rot fungi possess diverse enzymatic capabilities that could enable biodegradation of nicotine and other persistent pollutants.

Objective

This study explores the degradation of naturally extracted nicotine from tobacco leaves by the white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor under diverse environmental stressors. The research aims to assess fungal biodegradation capacity, compare performance in different growth media, and identify optimal environmental parameters for nicotine removal in wastewater.

Results

Optimal degradation occurred at 25°C and pH 5.20, particularly in synthetic wastewater, with degradation efficiency ranging from 80% to 99%. Synthetic wastewater outperformed conventional media, suggesting enhanced fungal adaptation in complex nutrient environments. Extreme conditions (pH 2.5 at 37°C) significantly hindered fungal growth and degradation efficiency.

Conclusion

Trametes versicolor demonstrates remarkable potential for effective nicotine removal in wastewater through fungal-based bioremediation. Environmental parameters such as temperature and pH are critical to optimizing fungal performance. The findings support development of sustainable, cost-effective fungal bioremediation strategies for managing nicotine contamination in aquatic environments.
  • Published in:Molecules,
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: PMID: 40572621; DOI: 10.3390/molecules30122658
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