Mycofiltration of microplastics, E. coli, caffeine, and food dye
Start Date
August 2024
End Date
August 2024
Location
ALT 207
Abstract
Untreated water sources such as municipal wastewater, urban streams, and agricultural runoff pose serious environmental threats. Water pollution from these sources contributes to the introduction of toxic substances, the spread of diseases, and the reduction of native biodiversity in the ecosystems it encounters. Particularly harmful substances in polluted water include microplastics, fecal coliform bacteria like E. coli, pharmaceutical pollutants like caffeine, and light-blocking synthetic dyes. A promising method of mycoremediation known as mycofiltration can provide a cheap and sustainable way of filtering these contaminants out of water.
Mycelium—the root-like structure of multicellular fungi—is made of thread-like structures known as hyphae. Mycofiltration uses the growth patterns of hyphae to create a water filter. As contaminated water passes through a substrate containing mycelium, the net-like hyphal networks trap harmful particulates in the substrate.
Throughout my research, I have developed an in vitro mycofiltration system and an assay to test the extent to which it can clean a contaminated water source. I present preliminary data from trials in which I sent a solution containing a known amount of microplastics, E. coli, caffeine, and food dye through tubes containing sawdust with (treatment) and without (control) P. ostreatus mycelium. Through further data collection, I am hopeful that my work can provide evidence that mycofiltration can be a sustainable and inexpensive way to treat contaminated waters and reduce the harmful effects of pollution.
Keywords: Mycoremediation, mycofiltration, water pollution, mycelium, microplastics, E. coli, caffeine, food dye
Mycofiltration of microplastics, E. coli, caffeine, and food dye
ALT 207
Untreated water sources such as municipal wastewater, urban streams, and agricultural runoff pose serious environmental threats. Water pollution from these sources contributes to the introduction of toxic substances, the spread of diseases, and the reduction of native biodiversity in the ecosystems it encounters. Particularly harmful substances in polluted water include microplastics, fecal coliform bacteria like E. coli, pharmaceutical pollutants like caffeine, and light-blocking synthetic dyes. A promising method of mycoremediation known as mycofiltration can provide a cheap and sustainable way of filtering these contaminants out of water.
Mycelium—the root-like structure of multicellular fungi—is made of thread-like structures known as hyphae. Mycofiltration uses the growth patterns of hyphae to create a water filter. As contaminated water passes through a substrate containing mycelium, the net-like hyphal networks trap harmful particulates in the substrate.
Throughout my research, I have developed an in vitro mycofiltration system and an assay to test the extent to which it can clean a contaminated water source. I present preliminary data from trials in which I sent a solution containing a known amount of microplastics, E. coli, caffeine, and food dye through tubes containing sawdust with (treatment) and without (control) P. ostreatus mycelium. Through further data collection, I am hopeful that my work can provide evidence that mycofiltration can be a sustainable and inexpensive way to treat contaminated waters and reduce the harmful effects of pollution.
Keywords: Mycoremediation, mycofiltration, water pollution, mycelium, microplastics, E. coli, caffeine, food dye
