Mycelium-Doped Straw Biochars for Antibiotic Control

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Environmental Science
• Materials Science

Background:

• Straw is a major agricultural waste product with untapped potential.
• Developing efficient adsorbents for water pollutant removal is crucial.
• Biochar derived from lignocellulosic materials offers a sustainable solution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of fungal mycelium infusion on corn straw biochar properties.
• To evaluate the performance of mycelium-doped biochar for antibiotic removal.
• To explore the potential of lignocellulosic materials for environmental remediation.

Main Methods:

• Chemically pretreated corn straw was infused with fungal mycelium variants.
• Infused straw was converted into biochar via carbonization and activation.
• The biochar's adsorption capacity for tetracycline hydrochloride and chloramphenicol was tested.

Main Results:

• Mycelium-doped biochars exhibited increased specific surface area and pore volume compared to control biochar.
• Significant differences in physical and chemical properties (functional groups, surface chemistry, micro-morphology) were observed.
• Mycelium-doped biochars demonstrated superior adsorption capacities for tetracycline hydrochloride and chloramphenicol, outperforming other adsorbents.

Conclusions:

• Fungal mycelium incorporation effectively enhances the adsorption properties of straw-based biochar.
• The developed biochar shows high stability and efficiency in removing antibiotics from water.
• This study provides a novel theoretical basis for utilizing lignocellulosic materials in environmental applications.