31. Mushroom treatment

Mushroom treatment involves adding specific fungi selected for their ability to degrade pollutants often described as difficult (figure 31 ), mainly Trametes versicolor or Phanerochaete chrysosporium. Fungi require delicate processing techniques. This technique is used when conventional biodegradation techniques reach their limits.

• Principle

  This process is applied ex situ. It is based on the fact that many contaminants that are recalcitrant to bacteria can be degraded by fungi, micro-organisms known for their highly diversified enzymatic pool.

  Unlike bacteria, fungi are eukaryotic micro-organisms (with a cell nucleus). They have a rigid wall and are much larger than bacteria. The basic...