In-situ Remediation of Carbofuran-Contaminated Soil by Immobilized White-Rot Fungi

The widespread use of carbofuran in agriculture and concomitant pollution of soil has caused health issues in virtue of its toxic effect and residue. Most bacteria degrade carbofuran incompletely, as phenolic metabolites are unable to break down. White-rot fungi are potent degraders of carbofuran owing to their extracellular ligninolytic enzyme systems. Here we studied the catabolism of carbofuran by Phlebia sp. (C strain), Lenzites betulinus (Y strain), and IIrpex lacteus (W strain). Corn stover, wheat straw, peanut shells, wood chips, and corn cobs were supplied as carriers to immobilize strains. The results showed that Phlebia.sp and Iopex lacteus were fit for the degradation of strains while corn stover and wheat straw are suitable as carriers. The strains grew better on the carrier at 28 degrees C under acidic conditions. The degradation rate of carbofuran was up to 69.83% after Iopex lacteus within 5 days by corn stover. The orthogonal experiment proved that temperature and pH primarily affected degradation rate.