Utilization of mushroom for the bioremediation of plastics and polythenes

Abstract

Plastics found important usage across all industries and are mostly produced from fossil sources, however, the additive used in the plastic production process makes these plastics non-hydrolyzable and deters the formation of biofilms, which are important for microbial colonization and subsequent degradation. The use of living organisms, specifically fungi, in the degradation of waste is known as mycoremediation. This has been applied to different waste categories, including lignocellulose, petrochemical, and wastewater with successes recorded. Plastic waste is ubiquitous and is a challenge to waste management due to its durability and recalcitrant nature; the remediation process of plastic waste produces by-products that could be destructive to humans and the environment. Mushrooms which have been consumed since time immemorial for their medicinal and pharmacology properties have been widely used in the mycoremediation process due to their rapid growth, biomass production, and extracellular enzymes. The enzyme system of mushrooms and those found in spent mushroom compost have degradational prowess which has shown the ability to digest plastic polymers. Mushrooms such as Pleurotus ostreatus, Agaricus bisporus, Auricularia auricular, and Pestalotiopsis microspore amongst several others have prospects in the mycoremediation of plastics and polythenes. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrophotometry confirms biodegradation breakage of chemical bonds in the plastic by revealing bands for oxidative products like esters, aldehydes, and carboxylic for mushroom-treated polythene films, nylons, and polythenes. Mycoremediation of plastic waste is purported to be sustainable in the large-scale degradation of plastic waste and should be exploited.