Biotransformation of three pharmaceutical active compounds by the fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium in a fed batch stirred reactor under air and oxygen supply

• Published in: Biodegradation (Dordrecht) 2012-02, Vol.23 (1), p.145-156
• Main Authors: Rodarte-Morales, A. I., Feijoo, G., Moreira, M. T., Lema, J. M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aeration; Air; Anti-inflammatory agents; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - metabolism; Anti-inflammatory drugs; Aquatic Pollution; Batch Cell Culture Techniques; Biodegradation; Biodegradation of pollutants; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Bioreactors; Biotechnology; Biotransformation; Diclofenac - metabolism; Environment and pollution; Enzymes; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fungi; Geochemistry; Ibuprofen - metabolism; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Kinetics; Life Sciences; Microbiology; Microorganisms; Naproxen - metabolism; Original Paper; Oxidation; Oxidation-Reduction; Oxygen; Phanerochaete - metabolism; Phanerochaete chrysosporium; Pharmaceuticals; Pharmacology; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Reactors; Soil Science & Conservation; Terrestrial Pollution; Waste Management/Waste Technology; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollutants, Chemical - metabolism; Water Pollution Control
• ISSN: 0923-9820; 1572-9729
• DOI: 10.1007/s10532-011-9494-9

White-rot fungi are a group of microorganisms capable of degrading xenobiotic compounds, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or synthetic dyes, by means of the action of extracellular oxidative enzymes secreted during secondary metabolism. In this study, the transformation of three anti-inflammatory drugs: diclofenac, ibuprofen and naproxen were carried out by pellets of Phanerochaete chrysosporium in fed-batch bioreactors operating under continuous air supply or periodic pulsation of oxygen. The performance of the fungal reactors was steady over a 30-day treatment and the effect of oxygen pulses on the pellet morphology was evidenced. Complete elimination of diclofenac was achieved in the aerated and the oxygenated reactors, even with a fast oxidation rate in the presence of oxygen (77% after 2 h), reaching a total removal after 23 h. In the case of ibuprofen, this compound was completely oxidized under air and oxygen supply. Finally, naproxen was oxidized in the range of 77 up to 99% under both aeration conditions. These findings demonstrate that the oxidative capability of this microorganism for the anti-inflammatory drugs is not restricted to an oxygen environment, as generally accepted, since the fungal reactor was able to remove these compounds under aerated and oxygenated conditions. This result is very interesting in terms of developing viable reactors for the oxidation of target compounds as the cost of aeration can be significantly reduced.