Ligninolytic Enzymes as Useful Tools for Biodegradation of Recalcitrant Organopollutants

Abstract

Basidiomycetes fungi are known to degrade various organopollutants, including polyaromatic hydrocarbons, pesticides, several polychlorinated compounds, and synthetic dyes. Their biodegradation capacity is often correlated with the production of nonspecific oxidative ligninolytic enzymes such as lignin peroxidase, Mn-dependent peroxidase, and laccase. The review summarizes the most important characteristics of ligninolytic enzymes from the viewpoint of their application in bioremediation processes. The focus is on the involvement of ligninolytic enzymes in synthetic dye decolorization, showing a proposed pathway of lignin peroxidase oxidation of azo dyes. It was concluded that bioreactors with the fungi or pure ligninolytic enzymes could become a promising bioremediation technology applicable to industrial waste water treatment.