Biodegradation of nitroaromatic compounds in Red Water by white rot fungi Pleurotus ostreatus and floridae

Abstract Pleurotus fungi are basidiomycetes that stand out in the degradation of recalcitrant organic compounds such as lignin derivatives and phenolic compounds. The aim of this study was to make a comparative evaluation of the capacity of the Pleurotus ostreatus POS 560 and Pleurotus floridae PSP1 fungi in the degradation of 2,4 and 2,6-dinitrotoluene (DNTs) in effluent from an explosive factory. The characterization of the effluent indicated 318 mg L-1 of DNTs, 246 mg L-1 of COD and toxicity factor for Daphnia magna corresponding to 8. The conduct of a multivariate study estimated the influence of the variables pH (5.0 and 6.0), co-substrate concentration (10 and 20 g L-1 of glucose) and species of the fungus Pleurotus (ostreatus and floridae) on the degradation of DNTs, indicating that the variables Fungus and [Glucose] were significant (p