Mycoremediation: An Insight to Cleanup of Pollutants

Abstract

Over the years, there has been a rise in the release of pollutants into the environment.
Pollutants from heavy metals, synthetic dyes, and plastics pose significant threats to ecosystems and human health. Mycoremediation involves the use of fungi for degrading or neutralizing contaminants within the environment. Mycoremediation, employing fungi to degrade or neutralize contaminants, offers a sustainable and effective solution to this environmental challenge. Several
processes such as biosorption, bioaccumulation, and biovolatilization utilise fungi's ability to adsorb, accumulate, and transform pollutants, offering sustainable and cost-effective solutions for environmental cleanup. They also possess specific enzymatic systems that alter them to break down complex pollutants into less harmful forms. Complex pollutants like dyes, heavy metals and
synthetic plastics are changed into less toxic forms. Enzymes such as Lacasse, Peroxidases, Cutinases and Lipases are secreted by some fungal isolates that help in the remediation of toxic pollutants. Various fungal species, from the genus Penicillium, Pleurotus , Trichoderma, Fusarium, Zalerion, Lasiodiplodia , Papiliotrema, and Aspergillus have been identified for their ability to remediate
pollutants efficiently. Mycoremediation processes are cost -effective and environmentally friendly cleanup solutions. This paper reviews the potential of mycoremediation in addressing heavy metal, dye, and plastic pollution, highlighting its significance as a sustainable alternative to conventional cleanup methods.