Mushroom Water: A Breakthrough in Eco-Friendly Purification

Traditional water purification methods can be costly, energy-intensive, and reliant on chemicals. As pollution and water scarcity concerns grow, researchers are exploring sustainable alternatives. One promising approach uses fungi to filter contaminants from water sources.

Studies show that certain mushrooms can break down or absorb pollutants, making them valuable for eco-friendly water treatment. This method, known as mycofiltration, offers a natural solution that reduces reliance on conventional filtration systems.

Mycofiltration Basics

Fungi act as decomposers in nature, breaking down organic matter and recycling nutrients. This ability makes them highly effective in filtering contaminants from water. Mycofiltration harnesses fungal mycelium—the thread-like network forming the vegetative part of fungi—to trap, degrade, or absorb pollutants. Unlike conventional filtration, which relies on mechanical sieving or chemicals, mycofiltration combines physical entrapment, enzymatic breakdown, and bioaccumulation for water purification.

Mycelium’s dense, interwoven structure creates a natural sieve that captures suspended particles, including bacteria, sediments, and microplastics. Beyond mechanical filtration, fungi produce extracellular enzymes, such as laccases and peroxidases, that break down toxic compounds like hydrocarbons and synthetic dyes. These enzymes transform harmful substances into less toxic forms, reducing their environmental impact.

Additionally, mycelium absorbs and sequesters contaminants through bioaccumulation. Some fungi can bind heavy metals like lead and cadmium within their cellular structures, removing them from water. Chitin and other polysaccharides in fungal cell walls provide binding sites for metal ions, enabling selective uptake of contaminants while allowing essential minerals to pass through. This selectivity enhances mycofiltration’s efficiency for targeted remediation.

Common Mushroom Species for Water Filtration

Several fungal species serve as effective natural biofilters. Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster mushroom) is widely studied for its ability to degrade organic pollutants. It produces ligninolytic enzymes that break down hydrocarbons, synthetic dyes, and pharmaceutical residues. Research in Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology found that P. ostreatus removes polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and pesticides from contaminated water. Its adaptability to various substrates makes it viable for large-scale filtration.

Ganoderma lucidum (reishi) is particularly effective at bioaccumulating heavy metals such as cadmium, lead, and mercury. Studies in Environmental Science and Pollution Research show that G. lucidum absorbs metal ions through its dense mycelial structure, binding contaminants within its cell walls. Its polysaccharides aid in flocculation, helping remove suspended particles from water.

Another extensively researched species is Trametes versicolor (turkey tail), known for strong enzymatic activity. It produces oxidative enzymes that degrade pharmaceutical residues and endocrine-disrupting chemicals. A study in Biodegradation found that T. versicolor significantly reduced ibuprofen and diclofenac concentrations in water, highlighting its potential for mitigating pharmaceutical pollution. Its ability to colonize various organic materials makes it useful for decentralized water treatment systems like constructed wetlands and biofilters.

Mechanisms of Contaminant Removal

Fungal mycelium purifies water through physical entrapment, enzymatic breakdown, and bioaccumulation. As water flows through a mycelial network, its fibrous structure acts as a sieve, capturing suspended particles such as sediments, bacteria, and microplastics. Unlike synthetic membranes requiring frequent replacement, mycelial networks continuously grow and adapt, maintaining filtration capacity over time.

Fungi also employ enzymatic degradation to break down complex pollutants. Many species produce oxidative enzymes, such as laccases and peroxidases, which catalyze reactions that alter the chemical structure of contaminants, making them less toxic. Research in Environmental Science & Technology shows fungal laccases degrade endocrine-disrupting chemicals, reducing their ecological impact.

Additionally, fungi absorb contaminants through bioaccumulation. Heavy metals bind to polysaccharides and proteins in fungal cell walls, allowing certain species to concentrate specific metals while letting essential minerals remain in solution. Over time, mycelium accumulates these contaminants, which can then be harvested for safe disposal or potential recovery of valuable elements.

Common Pollutants Addressed

Mycofiltration effectively removes various contaminants, including heavy metals, pharmaceutical residues, and agricultural chemicals, all of which pose environmental and health risks.

Heavy Metals

Lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic accumulate in water due to industrial discharge, mining, and improper waste disposal. These metals do not degrade and can bioaccumulate in aquatic organisms, entering the human food chain. Fungi such as Ganoderma lucidum and Pleurotus ostreatus effectively sequester heavy metals. Their mycelial networks contain chitin and glucans, which bind metal ions and remove them from water. A study in Environmental Pollution found that P. ostreatus reduced cadmium concentrations in contaminated water by over 80% within 48 hours. Compared to conventional methods like chemical precipitation and ion exchange, fungal filtration offers a sustainable alternative with minimal secondary waste.

Pharmaceutical Residues

Pharmaceutical compounds such as antibiotics, analgesics, and hormones enter waterways through wastewater discharge and improper disposal. Traditional water treatment plants often fail to remove these compounds, allowing them to accumulate in surface and groundwater. Fungi like Trametes versicolor and Aspergillus niger produce oxidative enzymes capable of breaking down pharmaceutical residues. Research in Water Research found that T. versicolor reduced diclofenac concentrations by over 90% within days. This enzymatic degradation minimizes pharmaceutical pollution and lowers the risk of antibiotic resistance in microbial communities.

Agricultural Chemicals

Pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers contaminate water through runoff and leaching, disrupting ecosystems and posing health risks. Mycofiltration degrades and adsorbs these pollutants, particularly organophosphates and chlorinated pesticides. Pleurotus ostreatus and Phanerochaete chrysosporium break down these compounds using ligninolytic enzymes. A study in Applied and Environmental Microbiology found that P. chrysosporium degraded over 70% of atrazine, a common herbicide, within two weeks. Fungal mycelium also adsorbs excess nitrates and phosphates, preventing eutrophication and harmful algal blooms.

Cultivation Approaches for Water Treatment

The effectiveness of mycofiltration depends on fungal species and cultivation methods that optimize growth and filtration capabilities. Researchers explore various approaches to enhance mycelial biomass production, structural integrity, and enzymatic activity for pollutant removal in industrial effluents, agricultural runoff, and municipal wastewater.

One approach involves growing mycelium on biodegradable substrates such as straw, sawdust, or agricultural waste, which provide structural support and nutrients. These materials encourage extensive mycelial colonization, creating dense filtration matrices that trap suspended particles and facilitate enzymatic degradation. Permeable mycelium-infused mats or biofilters installed in waterways have been shown to reduce sediment loads and chemical pollutants in runoff. Supplementing substrates with nutrient additives further boosts fungal enzyme production, improving contaminant breakdown.

Another strategy is submerged fermentation, where fungal mycelium grows in liquid media to produce extracellular enzymes at high concentrations. This method is particularly effective for degrading dissolved organic pollutants like pharmaceutical residues and agricultural chemicals. By optimizing pH, temperature, and oxygenation, researchers enhance enzyme secretion, accelerating pollutant breakdown. Some water treatment facilities incorporate fungal enzyme extracts directly into wastewater systems, providing a scalable solution for high-volume treatment operations.