Use of lignin-degrading fungi in the disposal of pentachlorophenol-treated wood

Summary The lignin-degrading fungiPhanerochaete chrysosporium, P. sordida, Trametes hirsuta, andCeriporiopsis subvermispora were evaluated for their ability to decrease the concentration of pentachlorophenol (PCP) and to cause dry weight loss in PCP-treated wood. Hardwood and softwood materials from PCP-treated ammunition boxes that were chipped to pass a 3.8-cm screen were used. All four fungi caused significant weight losses and decreases in the PCP concentration. The largest PCP decrease (84% in 4 weeks) was caused byT. hirsuta, and the smallest decrease was caused byC. subvermispora (37% in 4 weeks). After 4 weeks, the fate of spiked¹⁴CPCP] in softwood chips inoculated withT. hirsuta was as follows: 27% was mineralized, 42.5% was non-extractable and bound to the chips, 23.5% was associated with fungal hyphae, and 6% was organic-extractable. Decreases of PCP byP. chrysosporium andP. sordida averaged 59% and 57%, respectively. PCP decreases caused byPhanerochaete spp. were not significantly affected by wood type or sterilization and were primarily due to methylation of PCP that resulted in accumulation of pentachloroanisole. Softwood weight losses caused byT. hirsuta, P. chrysosporium andC. subvermispora were respectively, 24, 6.5, and 17%, after 4 weeks. These weight losses are comparable to reported weight losses by these organisms in non-treated softwood. Nutrient supplementation significantly increased weight loss but not percentage decrease of PCP. The results of this research demonstrate the potential for using lignin-degrading fungi to destroy PCP-treated wood.