Aiduang Worawoot, Jatuwong Kritsana, Ratanapong Kingkarn, Promjaidee Thanaporn, Xayyavong Orlavanh, Hongsanan Sinang, Lumyong Saisamorn
Office of Research Administration, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand.
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand.
Life (Basel). 2025 May 8;15(5):755. doi: 10.3390/life15050755.
Linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) waste presents a major environmental concern due to its high and widespread use. This study explores the potential of fungal mycelium as a bioremediation solution for LLDPE degradation, by evaluating on mycelial growth efficiency, ligninolytic enzyme activity, weight loss, surface morphology changes, and economic feasibility. Among the tested fungal species, WE032, TBRC6266, and AM011, demonstrated the most vigorous mycelial expansion (20.53 mm/day) and highest biomass accumulation (276.87 mg). Screening for ligninolytic enzymes revealed significant laccase (Lac) and manganese peroxidase (MnP) activity in all three species indicating their potential in polymer degradation. Weight loss analysis showed that achieved the greatest LLDPE degradation (1.182% after 30 days), highlighting its enzymatic and metabolic efficiency in breaking down synthetic polymers. Surface morphology studies supported these findings, revealing substantial erosion was observed in LLDPE sheets treated with and , confirming their effectiveness in polymer disruption. FTIR analysis indicated the formation of new functional groups and alterations in the carbon backbone, suggesting active depolymerization processes. Economic evaluation demonstrated that fungal biodegradation is a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable strategy, aligning with circular economy principles by enabling the generation of value-added products from plastic waste. Additionally, fungal-based waste treatment aligns with circular economy principles, generating value-added products while mitigating plastic pollution. These findings highlight fungal mycelium's potential for plastic waste management, advocating for further research on optimizing growth conditions, enhancing enzyme expression, and scaling industrial applications. Future research will focus on integrating fungal bioremediation with biomass residues from agricultural and forestry sectors, offering a comprehensive solution for waste management and environmental sustainability.
线性低密度聚乙烯（LLDPE）废料因其广泛大量使用而成为一个主要的环境问题。本研究通过评估菌丝体生长效率、木质素分解酶活性、重量损失、表面形态变化和经济可行性，探索真菌菌丝体作为降解LLDPE生物修复解决方案的潜力。在所测试的真菌物种中，WE032、TBRC6266和AM011表现出最旺盛的菌丝体扩展（20.53毫米/天）和最高的生物量积累（276.87毫克）。对木质素分解酶的筛选显示，所有这三个物种中漆酶（Lac）和锰过氧化物酶（MnP）活性显著，表明它们在聚合物降解方面的潜力。重量损失分析表明，[该物种]实现了最大程度的LLDPE降解（30天后为1.182%），突出了其在分解合成聚合物方面的酶促和代谢效率。表面形态研究支持了这些发现，在用[该物种]处理的LLDPE片材中观察到大量侵蚀，证实了它们在破坏聚合物方面的有效性。傅里叶变换红外光谱（FTIR）分析表明形成了新的官能团且碳骨架发生了变化，表明存在活跃的解聚过程。经济评估表明，真菌生物降解是一种具有成本效益且环境可持续的策略，通过从塑料废料中生成增值产品符合循环经济原则。此外，基于真菌的废料处理符合循环经济原则，在减轻塑料污染的同时生成增值产品。这些发现突出了真菌菌丝体在塑料废料管理方面的潜力，主张进一步研究优化生长条件、增强酶表达以及扩大工业应用规模。未来的研究将集中于把真菌生物修复与农业和林业部门的生物质残余物相结合，为废料管理和环境可持续性提供全面的解决方案。
