Mycoremediation Through Redox Mechanisms of Organic Pollutants

This chapter contributes with the understanding of alternative redox mechanisms involved in the degradation of organic pollutants by fungi. The increased demand for products and services has led to environmental pollution, thus promoting the development of a wide range of technologies to reduce their impact on ecosystems. Mycoremediation seems to be a promising solution for the removal of a wide range of toxins in the environment by fungi, mainly the strains associated with green coffee beans and the axenic culture of Aspergillus niger for the removal of benzene, methyl tert-butyl ether, and vat blue dye. For all experiments, maximum removal percentages of 60% and 52% were achieved for benzene and MTBE, respectively, while for vat blue dye, a maximum decolorization percentage of 94% was achieved. Although the degradation of pollutants can be carried out enzymatically, the experimental results suggest that reactive species are probably involved in the degradation of pollutants due to the presence of iron in the culture medium and the production of hydrogen peroxide by fungi.