Degradation of the Recalcitrant Pharmaceuticals Carbamazepine and 17a-Ethinylestradiol by Ligninolytic Fungi

Abstract

17a-ethinylestradiol (EE2, synthetic estrogen), carbamazepine (CBZ, anti-epileptic and mood- stabilizer) are pharmaceutical substances widely used worldwide and have been frequently detected in wastewater treatment plant (WTP), effluents and natural waters in several countries, including Brazil. The major concern of residues of these drugs in drinking water and aquatic environments are the potential adverse effects on human and animal health. This study evaluated the potential of ligninolytic fungi (two strains of Pleurotus and an as yet unidentified basidiomycete designated as strain BNI), to degrade EE2 and CBZ individually. All three strains were capable of degrading EE2 completely after 7 days of incubation, both in the absence or presence of another carbon source (glucose). While EE2 was extensively degraded by all strains, only strain BNI was able to degrade CBZ in the presence of glucose (47%). Pleurotus sp. P1 had the best growth in the presence of EE2 and produced significant enzyme activities for laccase and manganese peroxidase but not lignin peroxidase while degrading EE2. Laccase, manganese peroxidase and lignin peroxidase was observed for basidiomycete strain BNI strain during cometabolic degradation of CBZ.