Enhanced biodegradation of fluorinated pharmaceutical by Aspergillus flavus and Cunninghamella elegans biofilms: kinetics and mechanisms
Researchers discovered that two types of fungi, Aspergillus flavus and Cunninghamella elegans, can effectively break down common prescription drugs like fluoxetine, ciprofloxacin, and atorvastatin in wastewater. When grown as biofilms on foam carriers, these fungi removed over 90% of the pharmaceuticals in just a few days. This is an important finding because conventional wastewater treatment doesn’t effectively remove these medications, which can harm aquatic ecosystems.