Degradation of Organopollutants by Phanerochaete chrysosporium
EPA Contract Number: 68D10036Title: Degradation of Organopollutants by Phanerochaete chrysosporium
Investigators: Myer, Susan
Small Business: Tienzyme Inc.
EPA Contact: Manager, SBIR Program
Phase: I
Project Period: September 1, 1991 through March 1, 1992
Project Amount: $49,762
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (1990)
Research Category: Hazardous Waste/Remediation , SBIR - Remediation
Description:
There is presently widespread interest in using the lignin- degrading fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium and its enzymes (lign'.nases) for degradation of environmental pol- lutants. This fungus possesses a cry nonspecific oxidation system capable of degrading a large number of compounds to the level of carbon dioxide. The synthesis of this degra- dation system is triggered by starvation of the fungus for nutrient nitrogen and carbon. Herein lies the major limita- tion in practical utilization of this fungus. The rate of biodegradation is very low and the production of degradable enzymes such as the ligninases is very low. Tienzyme, Inc., has developed a selection procedure for isolation of mutants which overproduce the ligninases in addition to being able to degrade organopollutants under conditions of nutrient supplementation. The present proposal is aimed at charac- terizing these mutants for their biodegrading activity and to further isolate other mutants with superior phenotypes. Supplemental Keywords:Water, Scientific Discipline, Waste, Remediation, Biology, Microbiology, Environmental Microbiology, Contaminated Sediments, Hazardous, Bioremediation, organic pollutants, Superfund, superfund site, phanerochaete chrysosporium, biodegradation, enzymes, Superfund sites, degradation, hazardous waste sites, degradation of organic pollutants, Superfund site remediation, in-situ bioremediation, hazardous waste, hazardous waste site, hazardous waste treatment, organic contaminants, hazardous waste cleanup, in situ bioremediation