Action of mycoflora from agri-industrial effluents on different dyes and lignocellulosic substrates - doi: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v33i4.6187

Abstract

Extracellular enzymes of fungi are important for survival in inhospitable environments, as they are able to degrade recalcitrant compounds. Filamentous fungi secrete hydrolases and phenoloxidases that are capable of degrading complexes of aromatic structures, such as certain xenobiotics. The purpose of this study was to test different dyes (methylene blue, Azure B, Malachite Green and Crystal Violet), replacing the compound Poly R478 in the method of selection of phenol decomposer microorganisms in solid medium, and compare this activity of the mycoflora of effluents from sugar-alcohol industry, to the ones of other fungi acquired in official collection. The tested dyes proved to be excellent substitutes for Poly R478. The isolate that showed more intense decolorant activity than the diameter of its growth (Cladosporium sp.) was then tested on two natural and one synthetic substrate (sugarcane bagasse, sawing wood, and methylene blue) in liquid medium. This isolate removed high concentrations of reducing sugars, proteins and total phenols, and reduced the COD in medium containing sawdust as natural substrate of phenols. This fungus, therefore, seems promising to form consortia for co-metabolism and bioremediation of effluents in which there is a presence of phenolic or other recalcitrant compounds with similar structure to lignin.