Tween 80 enhanced TNT mineralization by Phanerochaete chrysosporium

The effect of a nonionic surfactant (Tween 80) on 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TN T) mineralization by the white-rot fungusPhanerochaete chrysosporium strain BKM-F-1767, was investigated in a liquid culture at 20, 50, and 100 mg TNT .L-1. The presence of 1% (w/v) Tween 80, at 20 mg.L-1 TNT, added to a 4-d-o ld culture, allowed the highest TNT mineralization level, that is 29.3% aft er 24 d, which is two times more than the control culture, without Tween 80 (13.9%). The mineralization of TNT resumed upon additional Tween 80 supple mentation, consequently, 39.0% of the TNT was respired on day 68. Orbital a gitation of the fungal culture was found detrimental to TNT mineralization, with or without Tween 80 in the culture medium. The surfactant also stimul ated the growth of P. chrysosporium without any notable effect on either th e glycerol consumption rate or the extracellular LiP and MnP activity level s. Respirometric assays highlighted some differences between the oxygen upt ake rate of the fungal culture supplemented with or without Tween 80.