Microorganisms were isolated from phenolic sands resulting from metallurgic activities, using Minimal Medium for fungi containing pentachlorophenol (PCP) as the only carbon source. After four successive subcultures every 15 incubation days, the final culture was plated on Martin Medium Agar. Three different fungi were isolated and subsequently identified as Acremonium sp., Paecilomyces sp. and Penicillium sp.; which were tested for their ability to degrade: PCP, indigo dye and Remazol Brilliant Blue R (RBBR). The decolouration of indigo dye was 99% for Paecilomyces and Penicillium and 74% for Acremonium. The decolouration of RBBR was 16% for Penicillium, 14% for Acremonium and 5% for Paecilomyces. Using bromothymol blue as indicator of PCP degradation, 24% decolouration was obtained for Acremonium, 22% for Penicillium and 17% for Paecilomyces. Degradation of PCP measured by gas chromatography was 69% by Penicillium, 65% by Paecilomyces and 40% by Acremonium. The results indicated that filamentous fungi could be isolated from a highly phenol-contamined area, and that these fungi were also able to degrade PCP and other xenobiotic compounds tested.
bioremediationm screening; RBBR; indigo; biodegradation; pentachlophenol