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Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Isolation and Screening from Soil Biodiversity for Fungi Involved in the Degradation of Recalcitrant Materials
Published on: May 16, 2022
Benzo[a]pyrene degradation using simultaneously combined chemical oxidation, biotreatment with Fusarium solani and
Catherine Rafin1, Etienne Veignie, Antoine Fayeulle
1Laboratoire de Synthèse Organique et Environnement (EA2599), Université du Littoral Côte d'Opale, 145 Avenue Maurice Schumann, 59140 Dunkerque, France. rafin@univ-littoral.fr
Abstract:
The interest of simultaneously combining chemical (Fenton's reaction) and biological treatments for the degradation of a high molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) has been studied in laboratory tests. An optimal concentration of 1.5x10(-3) M H(2)O(2) as Fenton's reagent was firstly determined as being compatible with the growth of Fusarium solani, the Deuteromycete fungus used in the biodegradation process. For the enhancement of BaP solubilisation, cyclodextrins were also used in the performed tests. The best degradation performance was achieved through the use of 5x10(-3) M hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HPBCD) in comparison with randomly methylated-beta-cyclodextrin (RAMEB). When Fenton's treatment was combined with biodegradation, a beneficial effect on BaP degradation (25%) was obtained in comparison with biodegradation alone (8%) or with chemical oxidation alone (16%) in the presence of HPBCD for 12 days of incubation.
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