Abstract
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are an important environmental issue and the identification of new biocatalysts for an efficient biodegradation of these compounds is essential for bioremediation. Therefore, fungi strains isolated for the first time from a tropical peat at Santo Amaro das Brotas (Brazil) were studied for fluoranthene biodegradation. Fusarium sp. AC-7, Penicillium sp. AC-1 and Penicillium sp. AC-6 were isolated using fluoranthene as sole carbon source. All strains were tested for biodegradation of 100 mg L-1 fluoranthene during 14 and 28 days. After 28 days of biodegradation, 64 ± 3, 60 ± 4 and 51 ± 2% biodegradation was observed for Penicillium sp. AC-1, Penicillium sp. AC-6 and Fusarium sp. AC-7, respectively. Analysis of the obtained compounds enabled the identification of four metabolites, which were common to the three employed strains: anthrone, anthraquinone, 9-methoxyanthracene and cyclopropa[1]phenanthrene. It is important to note that control experiments were performed. The obtained results clearly demonstrated the efficiency of tropical peat fungi in the transformation of fluoranthene. These findings showed the potential of tropical peats for isolation of fungi and indicated that these strains can be applied for bioremediation processes of areas contaminated with fluoranthene and other PAHs.
Highlights
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a class of aromatic fused-ring compounds produced by fossil fuel and biomass combustion, these compounds possess carcinogenic, mutagenic, and toxic properties.[1]
A peat soil is classified as a histosol due to its high content of organic matter (> 80 mg kg-1) and low pH
The concentrations of Mg2+ and Na+ found in the peat sample was higher than that of Ca2+ and K+, respectively (Table 1)
Summary
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a class of aromatic fused-ring compounds produced by fossil fuel and biomass combustion, these compounds possess carcinogenic, mutagenic, and toxic properties.[1]. The majority of PAHs released in the environment are categorized as 2A and 2B carcinogens, categorizing these compounds as probable and possible carcinogenic agents, respectively. Vol 32, No 9, 2021 toxic effects promoting several heart and lung diseases.[4] In addition, it is not possible to determine a safety limit of exposure to PAHs, since these compounds are genotoxic carcinogens, promoting deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) alterations and mutations.[5]. Fluoranthene is a four-ring compound found in the environment and one of the major components of petroleum sludge.[6,7,8] In addition, previous studies determined the levels of PAHs in the produced water of oilfields and showed that fluoranthene was one of the PAHs present at highest concentrations.[9]
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