Grantee Research Project Results
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: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: September 1, 1991 through March 1, 1992
Project Amount: $49,762
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (1991) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: SBIR - Waste , Hazardous Waste/Remediation , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
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:
Scientific Discipline, Waste, Water, Contaminated Sediments, Remediation, Environmental Microbiology, Microbiology, Bioremediation, Biology, Hazardous, degradation, degradation of organic pollutants, Superfund site remediation, hazardous waste treatment, organic pollutants, in situ remediation, Superfund sites, biodegradation, enzymes, hazardous waste, Superfund, hazardous waste cleanup, in situ bioremediation, in-situ bioremediation, superfund site, hazardous waste sites, hazardous waste site, organic contaminantsProgress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.