Ability of filamentous fungi to degrade four emergent water priority pollutants

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate biodegradation of four emergent water priority pollutants, di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), fluoranthene, aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), and estrone (EST), by filamentous fungi (Fusarium oxysporum, Geotrichum galactomyces, Trichoderma harzianum, and Fusarium solani). These pollutants are commonly found at high occurrence in French wastewater treatment plants. In acute toxicity tests, a weak sensitivity of fungal growth to the pollutants was observed with F. oxysporum showing the greatest growth inhibition (19.3%) in the presence of DEHP after four days of incubation. In addition, degradation experiments were conducted in mineral medium for each pollutant incubated with each filamentous fungus for 10 d. With the exception of EST, which was not degraded by any fungal isolate tested, the fungi degraded these emergent water priority pollutants, with F. solani and T. harzianum degrading 100% of DEHP and 69% of AMPA, respectively.

Keywords:

• Biodegradation
• Emergent pollutant
• Filamentous fungi
• Wastewater treatment

Acknowledgment

Financial support for the conduct of the research was provided by Biovitis (Saint Etienne de Chomeil, France). Three fungal strains were isolated by Biovitis from WWTP sludges and were deposited at Biovitis culture collection. The sponsor took also part to the study design and the results/discussion.