Removal of Organic UV Filters Using Enzymes in Spent Mushroom Composts from Fungicultures

Chu-Wen Yang; Ping-Hsun Tu; Wen-Yi Tso; Bea-Ven Chang

Removal of Organic UV Filters Using Enzymes in Spent Mushroom Composts from Fungicultures

2021

Chu-Wen Yang | Ping-Hsun Tu | Wen-Yi Tso | Bea-Ven Chang

Organic UV filters in sunscreen products are released to aquatic ecosystems through human recreational activities and urban wastewater treatment plant effluents. The biodegradation of three organic UV filters, 2-ethylhexyl salicylate (EHS), homosalate (HMS) and ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate (EHMC), which cannot be effectively removed by conventional wastewater treatment plants, was investigated in this study. Spent mushroom compost (SMC), a waste product of the mushroom industry, which contains white-rot fungus extracellular enzymes, was tested for its ability to remove the three organic UV filters. The results of batch experiments revealed that the SMC enzyme extract of <i>Pleurotus djamor</i> exhibited the highest ability for EHS and HMS removal. The results of bioreactor experiments indicated that direct application of SMCs may be a feasible solution to remove EHS and HMS from urban wastewater. The application of SMCs for the removal of organic UV filters can be developed into a green and sustainable technology.

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