DEGRADATION OF STYRENE BY WHITE-ROT FUNGI

Degradation of styrene in the gaseous phase was investigated for white -rot fungi Pleurotus ostreatus (two strains), Trametes versicolor, Bje rkandera adusta and Phanerochaete chrysosporium. Fungi were grown in l iquid culture and the gas/mycelium contact surface was enhanced with t he help of perlite. The influence of various inducers on styrene degra dation was studied. The best inducers for styrene degradation were lig nosulphonate for P. ostreatus and T. versicolor and wood meal for B. a dusta and P. chrysosoporium. Under these conditions all fungi were abl e to degrade styrene almost completely in 48 h at a concentration of 4 4 mu mol/250 mi total culture volume; one strain of P. ostreatus was a ble to remove 88 mu mol styrene under these conditions. Three transfor mation products of [C-14]styrene in cultures of P. ostreatus were iden tified: phenyl-1,2-ethanediol, 2-phenylethanol and benzoic acid; 4% of the styrene was metabolised to CO2 in 24 h and no other volatile prod ucts were found.