Biodegradation of fluoranthene by Pleurotus ostreatus.

Previous studies have shown that Fluoranthene (Ft) is the principal component, after Phenanthrene, of the extracts obtained from aged creosote treated wood. A study of Ft degradation was carried out in a liquid medium containing P.ostreatus mycelium, which has shown a wide detoxification capacity of creosote components. The neutral and acidic ethyl acetate extracts from the mycelium and growing medium and the methanolic extract of the mycelium were analysed by HPLC. Before the degradation began, Ft was absorbed by the mycelium (15 days), then the PAH was degraded by 50% in 40 days. The metabolites formed were: phenolic derivatives (1- and 8- hydroxy Ft), 9-fluorenone 1-carboxylic acid. Another acidic metabolite has still to be identified.