Phenol is an aromatic hydrocarbon which exists as a colorless or
white solid in its pure state. Over the past several decades, there is
growing concern about wide spread contamination of surface and
ground water by phenol, due to rapid development of chemical and
petrochemical industries. Phenol affects aquatic life even at relatively
low concentration (5-25mg/L). Treatment for removal of phenol
includes chemical as well as biological processes. Studies show that
ligninases such as Lignin Peroxidase and Laccase, produced by
Pleurotus sp., can degrade phenol. Spent substrate of Pleurotus
mushrooms consists of ligninases. Present work was to investigate the
potential of spent substrate of edible mushroom P. ostreatus for
biodegradation of phenol. P. ostreatus was cultivated on paddy straw.
After harvest, spent substrate was utilized for phenol degradation.
According to the enzyme profile of two ligninases present in the spent
substrate of P. ostreatus, maximum specific activity for Laccase was observed in 35 day old
spent substrate and LiP activity was maximum in 56 day old spent substrate, which together
contributed significantly for removal of phenol. Spent substrate of 35th and 56th day were
each incubated with phenol sample (1:1w/v) for one day, which resulted in degradation of
phenol by 48% and 45% respectively. From these results it appears that, spent substrate of P.
ostreatus can be used effectively to remove phenol from industrial effluents
Description:
World Journal Of Pharmacy And Pharmaceutical Sciences,Volume 1, Issue 2, 656-661.