Mycoremediation Fungi as Organic Pollutant Cleaners

In the ongoing global effort to tackle environmental degradation and pollution, nature continues to provide some of the most powerful tools for healing the damage we have caused. At BioGlobe, we specialise in enzyme- and bacteria-based solutions to remediate contaminated environments efficiently and safely. Yet in the broader field of organic remediation, another fascinating and increasingly influential ally is rising to prominence: fungi.

Mycoremediation, the use of fungi to break down or absorb environmental pollutants, is proving to be a game-changing approach in the remediation landscape. While enzymatic and bacterial formulations remain at the core of BioGlobe’s technology, fungal systems present a compelling complementary method that can enhance our shared mission—to restore soil, water, and ecosystems to health.

What is Mycoremediation?

The term “mycoremediation” refers to the use of fungi to degrade or absorb contaminants from the environment. Fungi, particularly their mycelial networks, possess remarkable enzymatic capabilities that enable them to break down complex organic molecules. This biological process is especially powerful when it comes to treating persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including pesticides, dyes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pharmaceuticals, textile dyes, and even microplastics.

At the heart of this capacity lies the unique ability of certain fungi—particularly white-rot species—to produce ligninolytic enzymes such as laccase, lignin peroxidase, and manganese peroxidase. These enzymes are originally evolved to degrade lignin, one of the most complex and recalcitrant polymers found in wood. Yet their chemical versatility enables them to also attack a wide range of synthetic and toxic pollutants.

Leading Species in Mycoremediation

Some of the most studied fungi in this field include:

• Phanerochaete chrysosporium: Known for its ability to break down lignin and degrade a wide range of organic pollutants including pesticides, dyes, and PAHs.
• Trametes versicolor (Turkey tail mushroom): Effective at producing laccase and peroxidases, used in degrading synthetic dyes and pharmaceuticals.
• Pleurotus ostreatus (Oyster mushroom): A common edible fungus that also degrades hydrocarbons, pesticides, and even heavy metals in some cases.

These fungi are non-pathogenic, widely available, and relatively easy to cultivate, making them attractive candidates for scalable remediation efforts.

How Fungi Work: Enzymes and Mycelial Networks

Fungi are natural decomposers. Their mycelium—an underground network of filamentous hyphae—extends over large areas, secreting enzymes that break down organic matter in the soil and on surfaces. These enzymes dismantle long-chain polymers into smaller, more manageable molecules which the fungus can then absorb and metabolise.

In mycoremediation, this enzymatic capability is harnessed to degrade pollutants that other biological systems struggle to process. For instance, the laccase enzymes of white-rot fungi oxidise phenolic compounds, a common component of industrial dyes and pesticides. Similarly, lignin peroxidases have shown effectiveness in cleaving complex aromatic rings found in PAHs and other hydrocarbons.

Key Advantages of Mycoremediation

1. Wide Range of Pollutant Targets: Fungi can address pollutants that are resistant to bacterial degradation, such as dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and synthetic dyes.
2. Cost-Effective and Scalable: Fungi can be cultivated on agricultural waste substrates (e.g., straw, sawdust), making them inexpensive and sustainable to produce.
3. Low Energy Input: Unlike thermal or chemical treatments, fungal remediation requires minimal external energy input.
4. Byproducts with Economic Value: Some mycoremediation processes yield edible mushrooms, usable enzymes, or soil amendments, adding further value.
5. Soil and Ecosystem Restoration: Fungal systems promote soil biodiversity, help retain moisture, and restore natural microbial balances.

Challenges and Considerations

Despite its promise, mycoremediation is not without challenges:

• Environmental Specificity: Fungi are sensitive to pH, temperature, moisture, and other environmental variables, which can limit their effectiveness in the field.
• Slow Growth: Compared to bacteria, fungal systems can take longer to colonise and degrade contaminants.
• Bioavailability of Pollutants: In some contaminated environments, pollutants may be bound within soil matrices, reducing accessibility for fungal enzymes.
• Limited Heavy Metal Remediation: While fungi can absorb certain metals, they generally do not degrade them. Bioaccumulation also presents a risk if not managed properly.

Complementary Role to BioGlobe’s Enzyme-Based Solutions

This is where the synergy between BioGlobe’s solutions and fungal remediation becomes highly relevant. BioGlobe’s enzyme formulations offer rapid, targeted degradation of pollutants, particularly in controlled wastewater and industrial settings. These products can be applied where precision and fast action are necessary.

Fungi, on the other hand, excel in more complex and less-controlled environments such as polluted forests, agricultural soils, abandoned industrial sites, and oil-contaminated land. When used together, fungi and enzymes can be deployed in a layered or sequential remediation strategy:

• Enzymatic Priming: BioGlobe enzymes can first be applied to reduce the pollutant load, making it easier for fungi to colonise and finish the job.
• Microbial and Fungal Co-cultures: Co-cultivation of fungal and bacterial species can create a cooperative degradation environment where one organism’s metabolites serve as substrates for the other.
• Sequential Bioremediation: Start with BioGlobe bacterial inoculants in wastewater systems, followed by the application of fungal biomass or spore-infused substrates in downstream soil areas.

Real-World Applications

1. Oil Spills and Hydrocarbon Remediation: In contaminated soils, oyster mushrooms have been used to degrade petrol and diesel residues effectively. Combining them with BioGlobe’s hydrocarbon-targeting enzymes can significantly speed up the detoxification process.
2. Textile Wastewater: Textile effluents often contain persistent dyes. Fungi like Trametes versicolor have demonstrated effectiveness in dye decolourisation. Enzyme-fungal hybrids can target complex dye molecules with higher efficiency.
3. Pharmaceutical Waste: Mycoremediation has been successful in degrading hormone disruptors and antibiotic residues from hospital and industrial waste streams. Blending enzyme pre-treatment with fungal polishing steps can yield cleaner effluents.
4. Agricultural Runoff: Pesticide residues in soils can be broken down by Phanerochaete chrysosporium. When combined with microbial remediation from BioGlobe, a broader spectrum of pollutants can be addressed.

Looking Ahead: Innovations in Mycoremediation

Recent advances are making mycoremediation even more appealing:

• Genetic Engineering: Researchers are enhancing the enzymatic pathways of fungi to improve specificity and pollutant degradation rates.
• Mycofiltration Systems: Engineered fungal mats are being developed to passively filter pollutants from water bodies.
• Mycoreactor Technology: Bioreactors seeded with fungi are used to treat industrial wastewater at scale, combining fungal enzymatic action with high-throughput processing.
• Integration with Biochar: Fungi can be used alongside biochar to improve soil structure, pollutant adsorption, and fungal growth.

Conclusion: A Natural Alliance for a Cleaner Future

At BioGlobe, we view the rise of mycoremediation not as a competitor to our microbial and enzyme solutions, but as a natural ally. The synergy between fungal systems and our technologies offers a multi-dimensional strategy for remediating contaminated environments—whether urban or rural, industrial or agricultural.

As environmental challenges grow more complex, the solution must be equally dynamic. Mycoremediation adds a powerful and sustainable layer to our arsenal, helping us advance towards a world where nature itself leads the cleanup.

We believe the future of organic remediation lies in collaboration—between nature’s organisms, between scientific disciplines, and between innovative companies and communities. The fungal frontier is here, and BioGlobe is ready to walk it.

Want to explore how fungi can complement your remediation project?
Contact us at www.bioglobe.co.uk to find out how our enzyme blends and microbial solutions can integrate with natural systems like mycoremediation to deliver results in even the most challenging environments.

Sources:

• Barr, D.P., & Aust, S.D. (1994). Mechanisms White Rot Fungi Use To Degrade Pollutants.
• Pointing, S.B. (2001). Feasibility of Bioremediation by White-Rot Fungi.
• Baldrian, P. (2006). Fungal laccases – occurrence and properties.
• Wikipedia, Mycoremediation.
• MDPI, Recent Advances in Coastal Organic Bioremediation (2025).
• Journal of Hazardous Materials, Applications of Fungi in Environmental Remediation (2024).

Bioglobe offer Enzyme pollution remediation for major oil-spills, oceans and coastal waters, marinas and inland water, sewage and nitrate remediation and also agriculture and brown-field sites, globally.

For further information:
BioGlobe LTD (UK),
22 Highfield Street,
Leicester LE2 1AB
Phone: +44(0) 116 4736303| Email: info@bioglobe.co.uk