Fungal Strain as Biological Tool to Remove Genotoxicity Effect of Phenolic Compounds from Olive Mill Wastewater

Abstract

This study aims to select fungi isolates to reduce olive mill wastewater (OMWW) chemical oxygen demand (COD) and phenolic compounds (PC), as well as their genotoxicity effect. Treatment with mold, isolated by an innovative technique using phenolic compound-selective media, showed a reduction rate of about 4% for COD and 2% for PC during one month of incubation without optimization of the treatment conditions. Whereas this percentage reached 98% and 96% for COD and PC, respectively, after only 12 days of treatment, when the C:N ratio was adjusted to 30 by adding urea as a nitrogen source at 150 rpm agitation speed. Genetic sequence homology of the most efficient mold isolate showed 100% similarity to Penicillium chrysogenum. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis of phenolic extracts of untreated OMWW showed the presence of five compounds—hydroxytyrosol at 1.22 g.L−1, tyrosol at 0.05 g.L−1, caffeic acid at 0.16 g.L−1, p-coumaric acid at 0.05 g.L−1 and oleuropein at 0.04 g.L−1—that were eliminated during the degradation process at 88.82%. Genotoxicity, assessed by the Vicia-faba root cell, showed a significant decrease in micronucleus frequency of about 96% after fungal treatment. These results confirm the positive role of fungal treatment of OMWW to eliminate genotoxicity and their ability to improve the agronomic potential.

A remarkable step in the aerobic biological treatment of Olive Mill Wastewater (OMW): A combination of selected microbial strains that enhance their decolorization and depollution

“…Thus, we could say that indeed OMW are among the most dangerous industrial liquids discharges, as reported other authors in the literature [20]. Thus, given their high pollutant load, these liquids waste pose multiple environmental problems when released into the environment without prior treatment [21]. Hence, the need to find effective, practical, and immediate solutions to this environmental scourge.…”

Harnessing fungal bio-electricity: a promising path to a cleaner environment

“…The activity of the Laccase (1,063 ± 26 U/L) of fungi causing the disease white rot ( Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Pycnoporus cinnabarinus, Ceriporiopsis subvermispora, and Trametes pubescens ) removed 87–92% of phenolic materials at pH 5.0 ( Robinson et al, 2001 ; Strong, 2010 ). Laccase fungi hydrolyzed the winery wastewater and potentially removed the phenolic compounds, color, and COD ( Strong and Burgess, 2008 ; Boutafda et al, 2023 ). The renowned fungal species Pleurotus ostreatus and T. versicolor , which are known for their ability to produce laccase, generate energy via the enzymatic layer located within the fungi’s cathode electrode ( Mani and Hameed, 2019 ).…”

Impact of Storage Duration on Polyphenolic Composition, Biological Activities, and Biodegradation of Olive Mill Wastewater

“…In recent years, there has been a growing interest in exploring the potential of OMW as a valuable source of bioactive compounds (Boutafda et al, 2023). Polyphenols, in particular, have garnered significant attention due to their reported health benefits (Rathod et al, 2023).…”