Enhanced Degradation of Pyrene and Metabolite Identification by Pleurotus eryngii F032

Abstract

Pyrene, a four-ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon that is highly resistant to degradation, persists in the environment and exerts its harmful effects toward humans, flora, and fauna when accumulated to a certain level. The ineffectiveness of conventional physical–chemical treatment methods has urged the emergence of biological treatments to degrade pyrene that persists in the environment. In this study, Pleurotus eryngii F032 was originally isolated from our laboratory due to its ability to degrade pyrene. Optimum conditions for pyrene degradation were determined using five different parameters, including pyrene concentration, incubation temperature, pH, agitation, and rhamnolipid concentration. The culture was incubated for 7, 15, 23, and 30 days, respectively, followed by pyrene extraction for degradation analysis. Results show that lower pyrene concentration requires less time for degradation by P. eryngi F032. Moreover, more time is needed for degradation when higher concentration is used, resulting in slower degradation. Optimum pyrene degradation conditions by P. eryngii F032 have been recorded at 40 °C incubation temperature, pH 3, and 2.5 % of rhamnolipid concentration with an agitation speed of 120 rpm. The capability of P. eryngii F032 to utilize pyrene as carbon and energy source depends on the presence of ligninolytic enzymes. The formation of protocatechuic acid resulting from pyrene degradation was detected via GC-MS analysis, which was further confirmed through spectrophotometric analysis.