Fungal enzymes are attracting interest as a possible tool for industrial remediation: the treatment of contaminated soil, water, sediments, or process residues. Their appeal is straightforward. Fungi produce enzymes that can break down complex organic materials, and some of these enzymes may also act on chemical pollutants. In the right conditions, this could support treatment … Read more
Industrial mycoremediation is the use of fungi, fungal mycelium, fungal enzymes or fungal biomass to reduce the concentration, toxicity, mobility or bioavailability of contaminants in soil, water, sediment and waste materials. The approach draws on fungi’s natural abilities to decompose complex organic matter, interact with metals and form extensive networks through porous materials. Fungi may … Read more
Laboratory research is where many mycoremediation ideas begin. In a flask, column, soil jar or small reactor, researchers can determine whether a fungal strain tolerates a contaminant, transforms it, or captures it on living or dead biomass. These studies are essential because they reveal mechanisms, identify promising organisms and generate the kinetic and toxicity data … Read more
Fungal biosorption is a method for removing dissolved metal ions from water by using fungal biomass as a binding material. It is important to define this process accurately: metals cannot be biodegraded or destroyed in the way that many organic pollutants potentially can. Biological treatment may change a metal’s chemical form, oxidation state, solubility, mobility … Read more
Hydrocarbon contamination occurs when compounds made primarily of carbon and hydrogen enter soil, sediment, surface water or groundwater. In environmental work, the term often refers to petroleum contamination from crude oil and refined products. Common sources include oil spills, leaking storage tanks and pipelines, gasoline, diesel, kerosene, jet fuel, lubricating oils, used motor oil, refinery … Read more
Living fungal biomass and dead or inactivated fungal biomass can both contribute to environmental remediation, but they do so through fundamentally different mechanisms. Living fungi rely on ongoing physiology: metabolism, growth, enzyme production and interactions with surrounding organisms. Dead biomass functions mainly as a nonliving sorbent whose cell-wall chemistry can capture contaminants without requiring biological … Read more