Microbial detoxification of waste rubber material by wood-rotting fungi.
The extensive use of rubber products, mainly tires, and the difficulties to recycle those products, has resulted in world wide environmental problems. Microbial devulcanisation is a promising way to increase the recycling of rubber materials. One obstacle is that several microorganisms tested for devulcanisation are sensitive to rubber additives. A way to overcome this might be to detoxify the rubber material with fungi prior to the devulcanisation. In this study, 15 species of white-rot and brown-rot fungi have been screened with regard to their capacity to degrade an aromatic model compound in the presence of ground waste tire rubber. The most effective fungus, Resinicium bicolor, was used for detoxification of rubber material. Increase in growth of the desulfurising bacterium Thiobacillus ferrooxidans in presence of the rubber treated with Resinicium bicolor compared to untreated rubber demonstrated that detoxification with fungi is possible.
Bredberg
Katarina
K
Department of Biotechnology, Center for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lund University, Sweden. katarina.bredberg@biotek.lu.se
Andersson
B Erik
BE
Landfors
Eva
E
Holst
Olle
O
D000880:Anthraquinones / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods*; D005658:Fungi / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D007220:Industrial Waste; D011108:Polymers / Q000378:metabolism*; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012408:Rubber / Q000378:metabolism*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013045:Species Specificity; D013455:Sulfur / Q000378:metabolism; D013855:Thiobacillus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D014866:Waste Products; D014934:Wood
D000880:Anthraquinones; D007220:Industrial Waste; D011108:Polymers; D014866:Waste Products; C017971:poly R-478; D013455:Sulfur; D012408:Rubber