Biodestruction of Phthalic Acid Esters by White Rot Fungi

The ability of white rot fungi from different ecophysiological groups (primary wood-destroying saprotroph Trametes hirsuta, secondary wood-destroying saprotroph Steccherinum ochraceum, litter saprotroph Crucibulum laeve, and humic saprotroph Agrocybe praecox) to degrade phthalic acid esters (PAEs) was studied. It was shown that diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) with longer and branched hydrocarbon chains was more rapidly biodegraded by wood-destroying saprotrophs such as T. hirsuta and S. ochraceum, with an efficiency of more than 99%. Dibutyl phthalate (DBP), which is less hydrophobic with shorter hydrocarbon units, was most efficiently transformed by the litter saprotroph C. laeve (up to 96.5%). Diethyl phthalate (DEP) proved to be the most toxic to all fungi. T. hirsuta showed the greatest resistance to elevated DEP concentrations in the medium. It has been shown that fungi destroy PAEs with the formation of various metabolites, depending on the composition of the multienzyme complex of the fungus. Among the secondary metabolites, ionol, an antioxidant formed by fungi when PAEs is added to the medium, was found.

Automated summary

The ability of different ecophysiological groups of white rot fungi to degrade phthalic acid esters (PAEs) was studied. It was found that wood-destroying saprotrophs such as Trametes hirsuta and Steccherinum ochraceum can rapidly biodegrade diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), while litter saprotroph Crucibulum laeve efficiently transforms dibutyl phthalate (DBP). All fungi showed high sensitivity to diethyl phthalate (DEP), with Trametes hirsuta being the most resistant. The study also revealed the formation of various metabolites, including ionol, when PAEs are present in the medium.