Capacity of Aspergillus niger to Degrade Anionic Surfactants and Coproduce the Detergent Compatible Enzymes

• Published in: Applied biochemistry and microbiology 2016-03, Vol.52 (2), p.183-189
• Main Authors: Jakovljevic, V D, Vrvic, M M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aspergillus niger; Biochemistry; Biodegradation; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Culture media; Detergents; Enzymes; Fungi; Life Sciences; Medical Microbiology; Microbiology; Municipal wastewater; Redox potential; Rivers; Surfactants; Wastewater discharges; Wastewater treatment
• ISSN: 0003-6838; 1608-3024
• DOI: 10.1134/S0003683816020083

The capacity of fungus Aspergillus niger to degrade anionic surfactants (AS) and coproduce the detergent compatible enzymes in a liquid Czapek-Dox medium supplemented with 0.3% powder detergent Merix (Henkel, Serbia) was examined in this study. The fungus was isolated from wastewater of Lepenica River (Kragujevac, Serbia), at a place where municipal wastewater discharged into the river. The concentration of AS in tested detergent and detergent-supplemented culture media was determined using a methylene blue active substances assay. The physico-chemical and biochemical changes of pH, redox potential, biomass dry weight, activities of alkaline protease and α-amylase were evaluated during fungal growth from 3-rd to 16- th day. The detergent caused an inhibitory effect on fungal growth and biomass dry weight (about 51.4%). Nevertheless, A. niger decomposed approximately 180.2 μg/mL or 30% of AS after 16 days. The results also showed that activities of alkaline protease and α-amylase were enhanced in presence of tested detergent for 372.0 and 12.7%, respectively. Overall, the obtained results indicate the potential application of fungus in wastewater treatment and detergent industry.