Fungi Used to Decontaminate Oily Soil
- Details
- Hits: 1921
Photo Credit: EcoWatch
New research from Aalto University, Finland has demonstrated a new, low-cost bioremediation method which uses fungi to clean up soil polluted with polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and dioxins. Researchers grew white rot fungi (Trametes versicolor) on pine bark, an ideal medium for the fungi, for 4 to 6 weeks and then transferred it to a treatment plant. The white rot mycelia then grew in polluted soil and broke down the organic pollutants. Laboratory analysis shows that the fungi broke down up to 96% of PAH compounds and 64% of dioxins in 3 months. The findings may help divert polluted soil from being disposed of at landfill sites and make it reusable for other purposes after treatment.
Link: http://ecowatch.com/2014/05/23/mushrooms-fungi-bioremediation-contaminated-soil/
Date & Source: May 23, 2014, EcoWatch
