Researchers discovered that a fungus called Aspergillus quadrilineatus can remove black ink from waste papers, providing an environmentally friendly alternative to chemical-based recycling methods. Under optimal conditions including neutral pH and room temperature, the fungus successfully removed 97% of ink from contaminated papers through a process called biosorption. This natural approach uses enzymes produced by the fungus to break down and remove the ink, making it a cost-effective solution for paper recycling that reduces environmental damage from traditional chemical methods.