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Research article2011Peer reviewed

Degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by the Chilean white-rot fungus Anthracophyllum discolor

Acevedo, Francisca; Pizzul, Leticia; Castillo, María del Pilar; Cuevas, Raphael; Diez, María Cristina

Abstract

The degradation of three- and four-ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Kirk medium by Anthracophyllum discolor, a white-rot fungus isolated from the forest of southern Chile, was evaluated. In addition, the removal efficiency of three-, four- and five-ring PAHs in contaminated soil bioaugmented with A. discolor in the absence and presence of indigenous soil microorganisms was investigated. Production of lignin-degrading enzymes and PAN mineralization in the soil were also determined. A. discolor was able to degrade PAHs in Kirk medium with the highest removal occurring in a PAN mixture, suggesting synergistic effects between PAHs or possible cometabolism. A high removal capability for phenanthrene (62%), anthracene (73%), fluoranthene (54%), pyrene (60%) and benzo(a)pyrene (75%) was observed in autoclaved soil inoculated with A. discolor in the absence of indigenous microorganisms, associated with the production of manganese peroxidase (MnP). The metabolites found in the PAN degradation were anthraquinone, phthalic acid, 4-hydroxy-9-fluorenone, 9-fluorenone and 4,5-dihydropyrene. A. discolor was able to mineralize 9% of the phenanthrene. In non-autoclaved soil, the inoculation with A. discolor did not improve the removal efficiency of PAHs. Suitable conditions must be found to promote a successful fungal bioaugmentation in non-autoclaved soils. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Keywords

Biodegradation; Anthracophyllum discolor; Ligninolytic enzymes; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); Bioaugmentation

Published in

Journal of Hazardous Materials
2011, Volume: 185, number: 1, pages: 212-219
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

    UKÄ Subject classification

    Environmental Sciences
    Other Environmental Engineering

    Publication identifier

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2010.09.020

    Permanent link to this page (URI)

    https://res.slu.se/id/publ/46886