Enzymatic degradation of anthracene by the white rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium immobilized on sugarcane bagasse

Thermally enhanced bioremediation: A review of the fundamentals and applications in soil and groundwater remediation

Thermally enhanced bioremediation (TEB), a new concept proposed in recent years, explores the combination of thermal treatment and bioremediation to address the challenges of the low efficiency and long duration of bioremediation. This study presented a comprehensive review regarding the fundamentals of TEB and its applications in soil and groundwater remediation. The temperature effects on the bioremediation of contaminants were systematically reviewed. The thermal effects on the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of soil, and the corresponding changes of contaminants bioavailability and microbial metabolic activities were summarized. Specifically, the increase in temperature within a suitable range can proliferate enzymes enrichment, extracellular polysaccharides and biosurfactants production, and further enhancing bioremediation. Furthermore, a systematic evaluation of TEB applications by utilizing traditional in situ heating technologies, as well as renewable energy (e.g., stored aquifer thermal energy and solar energy), was provided. Additionally, TEB has been applied as a biological polishing technology post thermal treatment, which can be a cost-effective method to address the contaminants rebounds in groundwater remediation. However, there are still various challenges to be addressed in TEB, and future research perspectives to further improve the basic understanding and applications of TEB for the remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater are presented.

Impact of lignocellulosic waste-immobilised white-rot fungi on enhancing the development of 14C-phenanthrene catabolism in soil

In this study, an investigation was carried out to explore the the impact of white-rot fungi (WRF) on enhancing the development of phenanthrene catabolism in soil over time (1, 25, 50, 75 and 100 d). The WRF were immobilised on spent brewery grains (SBG) prior to inoculation to the soil. The results showed that SBG-immobilised WRF-amended soils reduced the lag phases and increased the extents of ¹⁴C-phenanthrene mineralisation. Greater reductions in the lag phases and increases in the rates of mineralisation were observed in immobilised Trametes versicolor-amended soil compared to the other WRF-amendments. However, the presence of Pleurotus ostreatus and Phanerochaete chrysosporium influenced biodegradation more strongly than the other fungal species. In addition, fungal enzyme activities increased in the amended soils and positively correlated with the extents of ¹⁴C-phenanthrene mineralisation in all soil amendments. Maximum ligninolytic enzyme activities were observed in P. ostreatus-amended soil. Microbial populations increased in all amended soils while PAH-degrading fungal numbers increased with increased soil-PAH contact time and strongly positively correlated with fastest rates of mineralisation. The findings presented in this study demonstrate that inoculating the soil with these immobilised WRFs generally enhanced the mineralisation of the ¹⁴C-phenanthrene in soil. This has the potential to be used to stimulate or enhance PAH catabolism in field-contaminated soils.

Sugarcane bagasse: a biomass sufficiently applied for improving global energy, environment and economic sustainability

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) bagasse (SCB) is a biomass of agricultural waste obtained from sugarcane processing that has been found in abundance globally. Due to its abundance in nature, researchers have been harnessing this biomass for numerous applications such as in energy and environmental sustainability. However, before it could be optimally utilised, it has to be pre-treated using available methods. Different pre-treatment methods were reviewed for SCB, both alkaline and alkali-acid process reveal efficient and successful approaches for obtaining higher glucose production from hydrolysis. Procedures for hydrolysis were evaluated, and results indicate that pre-treated SCB was susceptible to acid and enzymatic hydrolysis as > 80% glucose yield was obtained in both cases. The SCB could achieve a bio-ethanol (a biofuel) yield of > 0.2 g/g at optimal conditions and xylitol (a bio-product) yield at > 0.4 g/g in most cases. Thermochemical processing of SCB also gave excellent biofuel yields. The plethora of products obtained in this regard have been catalogued and elucidated extensively. As found in this study, the SCB could be used in diverse applications such as adsorbent, ion exchange resin, briquettes, ceramics, concrete, cement and polymer composites. Consequently, the SCB is a biomass with great potential to meet global energy demand and encourage environmental sustainability.

Surfactant-facilitated alginate-biochar beads embedded with PAH-degrading bacteria and their application in wastewater treatment

Immobilized Pseudomonas aeruginosa beads with alginate and biochar as composite carriers and a nonionic surfactant (TX100) as degradation promoter were prepared by the gel embedding method. The optimal preparation parameters for the biochar addition amount and the concentrations of the bacterial suspension and TX100 were 1%, OD₆₀₀ = 1 and 200 mg/L, respectively. The addition of TX100 can simultaneously promote biochar sorption of PAHs and PAH degradation by P. aeruginosa. The removal ratio of acenaphthene was 24% higher for the TX100-facilitated immobilized bacterial beads than the beads in the absence of TX100. The surfactant-facilitated immobilized bacterial beads can thoroughly remove PAHs in wastewater under the conditions of 10~50 °C, pH 2.5~10.5, and less than 0.2 mol/L NaCl. The immobilized bacterial beads are suitable for continuous-flow reactors, and 2-mm-diameter beads will achieve better application results than larger beads. The new immobilized material can be widely used in various wastewater treatment reactors and in the in situ remediation of organic polluted water.

Biodegradation of high concentration phenol using sugarcane bagasse immobilized Candida tropicalis PHB5 in a packed-bed column reactor

Biodegradation of phenolic compounds in wastewater can be effectively carried out in packed bed reactors (PBRs) employing immobilized microorganisms. A low-cost, reusable immobilization matrix in PBR can provide economic advantages in large scale removal of high concentration phenol. In this study, we evaluated the efficiency and reusability of sugarcane bagasse (SCB) as a low-cost immobilization support for high strength phenol removal in recirculating upflow PBR. An isolated yeast Candida tropicalis PHB5 was immobilized onto the SCB support and packed into the reactor to assess phenol biodegradation at various influent flow rates. Scanning electron microscopy exhibited substantial cell attachment within the pith and onto the fibrous strand surface of the SCB support. The PBR showed 97% removal efficiency at the initial phenol concentration of 2400 mg L^-1 and 4 mL min^-1 flow rate within 54 h. Biodegradation kinetic studies revealed that the phenol biodegradation rate and biodegradation rate constant were dependent on the influent flow rate. A relatively higher rate of biodegradation (64.20 mg g^-1 h^-1) was found at a flow rate of 8 mL min^-1, indicating rapid phenol removal in the PBR. Up to six successive batches (phenol removal >94%) were successfully applied in the PBR using an initial phenol concentration of 400-2400 mg L^-1 at a flow rate of 4 mL min^-1 indicating the reusability of the PBR system. The SCB-immobilized C. tropicalis could be employed as a cost-effective packing material for removal of high strength phenolic compounds in real scale PBR.

Development of a Novel Spawn (Block Spawn) of an Edible Mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatus, in Liquid Culture and its Cultivation Evaluation

Mushroom cultivation has gained increased attention in recent years. Currently, only four types of spawn, including sawdust spawn, grain spawn, liquid spawn, and stick spawn, are commonly available for mushroom cultivation. This limited spawn diversity has led to difficulty in selecting suitable inoculum materials in some cultivation. In this study, three small blocks of lignocellulosic agro-wastes and one block of a synthetic matrix were prepared as support for growing Pleurotus ostreatus in liquid medium. Mycelium-adsorbed blocks were then evaluated for their potential as block spawn for fructification. Our results indicated that the edible fungus was adsorbed and abundantly grew internally and externally on loofah sponge and synthetic polyurethane foam (PUF) supports and also has the ability to attach and grow on the surface of sugarcane bagasse and corncob supports. The mycelia of P. ostreatus adhered on corncob exhibited the highest metabolic activity, while those on the PUF showed the least activity. Mycelial extension rates of block spawns made of agro-waste materials were comparable to that of sawdust spawn, but the block spawn of PUF showed a significantly lower rate. No significant differences in cropping time and yield were observed among cultivations between experimental block spawns and sawdust spawns. Moreover, the corncob block spawn maintained its fruiting potential during an examined period of 6-month storage. The developed block spawn could be practically applied in mushroom cultivation.

Metal complexes supported on activated carbon as catalysts for the hydrogenation of anthracene

In this work, the catalytic activity was investigated in the hydrogenation of anthracene by BaSO3 and Cu(II), Zn(II) and Ni(II) complexes that contain the ligand bis(3,5-dimethyl-1-pyrazolyl) methane (L). The compounds were supported on activated carbon (AC) and studied as catalysts for the hydrogenation of anthracene over different temperatures and reaction times. The supported catalysts (Cat/AC) were prepared by direct impregnation on the support and characterized by surface area determination, FTIR spectroscopy, and X-ray powder diffraction and pore size distribution analysis. The results showed high conversions and selectivity toward hydrogenated products, where the highest value was obtained using LNiCl2/AC and the lowest with BaSO3/AC. It was established that the selectivity for Tetrahydroanthracene was more highest quantity as a product of hydrogenation using Cat/AC which is dependent of the temperature, reaching a peak at 450 °C. At this temperature and with very short reaction times, the catalytic activity is influenced mainly by the chemical characteristics of the metal in the complexes and the AC support.

Biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by fungal enzymes: A review

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a large group of chemicals. They represent an important concern due to their widespread distribution in the environment, their resistance to biodegradation, their potential to bioaccumulate and their harmful effects. Several pilot treatments have been implemented to prevent economic consequences and deterioration of soil and water quality. As a promising option, fungal enzymes are regarded as a powerful choice for degradation of PAHs. Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Pleurotus ostreatus and Bjerkandera adusta are most commonly used for the degradation of such compounds due to their production of ligninolytic enzymes such as lignin peroxidase, manganese peroxidase and laccase. The rate of biodegradation depends on many culture conditions, such as temperature, oxygen, accessibility of nutrients and agitated or shallow culture. Moreover, the addition of biosurfactants can strongly modify the enzyme activity. The removal of PAHs is dependent on the ionization potential. The study of the kinetics is not completely comprehended, and it becomes more challenging when fungi are applied for bioremediation. Degradation studies in soil are much more complicated than liquid cultures because of the heterogeneity of soil, thus, many factors should be considered when studying soil bioremediation, such as desorption and bioavailability of PAHs. Different degradation pathways can be suggested. The peroxidases are heme-containing enzymes having common catalytic cycles. One molecule of hydrogen peroxide oxidizes the resting enzyme withdrawing two electrons. Subsequently, the peroxidase is reduced back in two steps of one electron oxidation. Laccases are copper-containing oxidases. They reduce molecular oxygen to water and oxidize phenolic compounds.

A novel bioremediation strategy for petroleum hydrocarbon pollutants using salt tolerant Corynebacterium variabile HRJ4 and biochar

The present work aimed to develop a novel strategy to bioremediate the petroleum hydrocarbon contaminants in the environment. Salt tolerant bacterium was isolated from Dagang oilfield, China and identified as Corynebacterium variabile HRJ4 based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. The bacterium had a high salt tolerant capability and biochar was developed as carrier for the bacterium. The bacteria with biochar were most effective in degradation of n-alkanes (C16, C18, C19, C26, C28) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (NAP, PYR) mixture. The result demonstrated that immobilization of C. variabile HRJ4 with biochar showed higher degradation of total petroleum hydrocarbons (THPs) up to 78.9% after 7-day of incubation as compared to the free leaving bacteria. The approach of this study will be helpful in clean-up of petroleum-contamination in the environments through bioremediation process using eco-friendly and cost effective materials like biochar.

Degradation and detoxification of the triphenylmethane dye malachite green catalyzed by crude manganese peroxidase from Irpex lacteus F17

Malachite green (MG), a recalcitrant, carcinogenic, and mutagenic triphenylmethane dye, was decolorized and detoxified using crude manganese peroxidase (MnP) prepared from the white rot fungus Irpex lacteus F17. In this study, the key factors (pH, temperature, MG, Mn(2+), H2O2, MnP) in these processes were investigated. Under optimal conditions, 96 % of 200 mg L(-1) of MG was decolorized when 66.32 U L(-1) of MnP was added for 1 h. The K m, V max, and k cat values were 109.9 μmol L(-1), 152.8 μmol L(-1) min(-1), and 44.5 s(-1), respectively. The decolorization of MG by MnP followed first-order reaction kinetics with a kinetic rate constant of 0.0129 h(-1). UV-vis and UPLC analysis revealed degradation of MG. Furthermore, seven different intermediates formed during the MnP treatment of 0.5 h were identified by LC-TOF-MS. These degradation products were generated via two different routes by either N-demethylation of MG or the oxidative cleavage of the C-C double bond in MG. Based on ecotoxicity analyses performed on bacteria and algae, it was confirmed that MG metabolites produced by the MnP-catalyzed system were appreciably less toxic than the parent compound. These studies indicate the potential use of this enzyme system in the clean-up of aquatic and terrestrial environments.

Enhanced removal of naproxen and carbamazepine from wastewater using a novel countercurrent seepage bioreactor immobilized with Phanerochaete chrysosporium under non-sterile conditions

A countercurrent seepage bioreactor immobilized with Phanerochaete chrysosporium was continuously operated under non-sterile conditions to treat a synthetic wastewater spiked with naproxen and carbamazepine (1000μg/L each) for 165days. There were no serious bacterial contaminations occurred during the operational period. Naproxen was always removed to the undetectable level regardless of the experimental conditions, while the average removal efficiency for carbamazepine, a well-known recalcitrant pharmaceutically active compound, reached around 80%. The excellent removal performance was mainly attributed to the application of countercurrent seepage mode and the cardhouse fabric of the carriers, which provided the high efficiency in the transfer of oxygen and nutrients inside the bioreactor. From the fungal immobilization combined with the temperature adjustment, the fungal activity including the enzyme production was protected as well as the bacterial contamination inside the reactor was suppressed effectively.

White-rot fungi capable of decolourising textile dyes under alkaline conditions

Twelve white-rot fungal strains belonging to seven different species were screened on plates under alkaline condition to study the decolourisation of the textile dyes Reactive Black 5 and Poly R-478. Three strains of Trametes versicolor (Micoteca da Universidade do Minho (MUM) 94.04, 04.100 and 04.101) and one strain of Phanerochaete chrysosporium (MUM 94.15) showed better decolourisation results. These four strains were used for decolourisation studies in liquid culture medium. All four selected strains presented more efficient decolourisation rates on Reactive Black 5 than on Poly R-478. For both dyes on solid and liquid culture media, the decolourisation capability exhibited by these strains depended on dye concentration and pH values of the media. Finally, the decolourisation of Reactive Black 5 by T. versicolor strains MUM 94.04 and 04.100 reached 100 %. In addition, the highest white-rot fungi ligninolytic enzyme activities were found for these two strains.

Metabolism of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by the wood-feeding termite Coptotermes formosanus (Shiraki)

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are among the most prevalent and persistent pollutants in the environment. In this study, the wood-feeding termite (WFT) Coptotermes formosanus (Shiraki) was studied regarding the potential ability to degrade two selected low-molecular-weight PAHs, phenanthrene and anthracene. Pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry was employed for analysis of in vivo PAH degradation by three gut segments (fore-, mid-, and hindgut) of the WFT. The results revealed the capability of lower termite for PAH metabolism, which started from the foregut and mainly occurred in the midgut region. Remediation of phenanthrene by the termite has been proposed to be initiated via hydroxylation at the C-10 position. Anthracene metabolism first occurred at the C-3, C-5, and C-12 positions with the addition of aldehyde and carbonyl groups. Ring hydroxylation, methoxylation, esterification, carboxylation, and methylation were detected on both the PAHs for ring fission, suggesting the existence of effective PAH modification activity in the alimentary canal of C. formosanus . This new PAH degradation system of the WFT provides new insights for potential technologies for bioremediation of PAH-contaminated soil and sediment based on the related lingolytic enzymes.

Bioaccumulation and depuration of anthracene in Penaeus monodon (Fibricius) through food ingestion

Understanding on the bioaccumulation and depuration of PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) in Penaeus monodon is important in seafood safety because it is one of the most popular seafood consumed worldwide. In this study, we used anthracene as the precursor compound for PAHs accumulation and depuration in the shrimp. Commercial feed pellets spiked with anthracene were fed to P. monodon. At 20 mg kg(-1) anthracene, P. monodon accumulated 0.1% of the anthracene from the feed. P. monodon deputed the PAH two times faster than its accumulation. The shrimp reduced its feed consumption when anthracene content in the feed exceeded 20 mg kg(-1). At 100 mg kg(-1) anthracene, P. monodon started to have necrosis tissues on the posterior end of their thorax. The bioaccumulation factor (BAF), uptake rate constant (k(1)) and depuration rate constant (k(2)) of anthracene in P. monodon were 1.15×10(-3), 6.80×10(-4) d(-1) and 6.28×10(-1) d(-1), respectively. The depuration rate constant is about thousand times higher than the uptake rate constant and this indicated that this crustacean is efficient in depurating hydrocarbons from their tissue.

Pentachlorophenol sorption in nylon fiber and removal by immobilized Rhizopus oryzae ENHE

This study describes pentachlophenol (PCP) sorption in nylon fiber in which Rhizopus oryzae ENHE was immobilized to remove the chemical compound. The experimental sorption data were analyzed using the Langmuir, Freundlich, and Redlich-Peterson isotherm models using non-linear error functions to fit the experimental data to the three models. Results showed that the isotherm obtained from the data fitted the three models used. However, the g parameter from Redlich-Peterson model showed that the isotherm obtained approaches the Freundlich model. This support reached the sorption equilibrium concentration at 3mg PCPg(-1)nylon. To study PCP removal capability by R. oryzae ENHE and to eliminate the error caused by PCP sorbed by the nylon fiber during its quantification, nylon fiber at PCP equilibrium sorption concentration was used to immobilize R. oryzae ENHE. It was found that this fungus grew within nylon fiber cubes in presence or not of PCP, even when PCP caused growth inhibition. Maximum biomass accumulated into nylon cubes without PCP was of 32 mg biomass g(-1)nylon and into nylon cubes at PCP equilibrium concentration was of 18 mg g(-1)nylon. The results showed that R. oryzae ENHE immobilized into nylon fiber removed 88.6% and 92% of PCP in cultures with 12.5 and 25 mg PCPL(-1), as initial concentration, respectively. This is the first work to report that a zygomycete, such as R. oryzae ENHE, immobilized into nylon fiber kept its potential to remove PCP.

Biodegradation of anthracene by Aspergillus fumigatus

An anthracene-degrading strain, identified as Aspergillus fumigatus, showed a favorable ability in degradation of anthracene. The degradation efficiency could be maintained at about 60% after 5d with initial pH of the medium kept between 5 and 7.5, and the optimal temperature of 30 °C. The activity of this strain was not affected significantly by high salinity. Exploration on co-metabolism showed that the highest degradation efficiency was reached at equal concentration of lactose and anthracene. Excessive carbon source would actually hamper the degradation efficiency. Meanwhile, the strain could utilize some aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, phenol etc. as sole source of carbon and energy, indicating its degradation diversity. Experiments on enzymatic degradation indicated that extracellular enzymes secreted by A. fumigatus could metabolize anthracene effectively, in which the lignin peroxidase may be the most important constituent. Analysis of ion chromatography showed that the release of anions of A. fumigatus was not affected by addition of anthracene. GC-MS analysis revealed that the molecular structure of anthracene changed with the action of the microbe, generating a series of intermediate compounds such as phthalic anhydride, anthrone and anthraquinone by ring-cleavage reactions.

A critical review of the application of white rot fungus to environmental pollution control

Research on white rot fungi for environmental biotechnology has been conducted for more than 20 years. In this article, we have reviewed processes for cell growth and enzyme production including the factors influencing enzyme productivity and the methods for enhancement of enzyme production. Significant progress has been achieved in molecular biology related to white rot fungi, especially related to the extraction of genetic material (RNA and DNA), gene cloning and the construction of genetically engineered microorganisms. The development of biotechnologies using white rot fungi for environmental pollution control has been implemented to treat various refractory wastes and to bioremediate contaminated soils. The current status and future research needs for fundamentals and application are addressed in this review.

Enzymatic degradation of tetracycline and oxytetracycline by crude manganese peroxidase prepared from Phanerochaete chrysosporium

Pharmaceuticals have been attracting increasing attention in recent years as emerging contaminants, of which the most frequently detected kind in various environments are antibiotics. In this study, crude manganese peroxidase (MnP) prepared from the Phanerochaete chrysosporium, a white rot fungi, was taken as a highly efficient biocatalyst to degrade tetracycline (TC) and oxytetracycline (OTC) which are widely used antibiotics. The results show that 72.5% of 50mg/L of TC was degraded when added 40 U/L of MnP, while 84.3% of 50mg/L of OTC was degraded with the same amount of the catalyst added, both within 4h. The degradation rate was dependant on the pH and the temperature of the reaction system, and was likely sensitive to the concentration of H(2)O(2). With the pH at 2.96-4.80, the temperature at 37-40 degrees C, the Mn(2+) concentration higher than 0.1mM and up to 0.4mM, the H(2)O(2) concentration of 0.2mM, and the enzyme-substrate ratio above 2.0 U/mg, the degradation rate reached the highest. In addition, a separate series of experiments also show that the compensation of H(2)O(2) during the reaction process could improve the degradation of TC by MnP.