Objective Screening fungi with the ability to degrade polyacrylamide (PAM) and analyzing the characteristics of their degradation products can provide a basis for clarifying the degradation mechanism. Methods Fungi capable of degrading PAM were screened from bauxite sludge and used to construct a composite fungal community, with the degradation products and morphological characteristics being determined under optimized conditions. Results The results showed that the three strains of fungi screened out were Trichoderma asperellum, Aspergillus flavus, and Aspergillus niger, which showed the degradation rates of 27.35%, 25.20%, and 23.04%, respectively, for PAM. The degradation conditions were optimized by the response surface method as initial pH 5.5, inoculum amount of 5.1%, and incubation temperature of 32 ℃, under which the fungal complex constructed with T. asperellum and A. flavus showed the PAM degradation rate of 45.44%, a viscosity reduction rate of 84.57%, and laccase and urease activities of 13.90 U/mL and 17.70 U/mL, respectively. A large number of hollows and cavities were formed on the surface of PAM after degradation. In addition, mycelial biofilm was observed on the surface. The degradation products showed -COOH and -OH functional groups. Conclusion The above results suggest that the fungal complex may degrade PAM into small molecules through the synergistic effects of mycelial physical erosion and extracellular enzymes.
| 科 Family | 属数 Number of genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) | 属 Genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 鹅膏菌科Amanitaceae | 2 | 11 | 5.26 | 鹅膏菌属 Amanita | 10 | 4.78 |
| 小菇科 Mycenaceae | 2 | 12 | 5.74 | 丝盖伞属 Inocybe | 5 | 2.39 |
| 多孔菌科 Polyporaceae | 8 | 14 | 6.70 | 蜡蘑属 Laccaria | 5 | 2.39 |
| 红菇科 Russulaceae | 3 | 23 | 11.00 | 小皮伞属 Marasmius | 6 | 2.87 |
| 小菇属 Mycena | 11 | 5.26 | ||||
| 光柄菇属 Pluteus | 5 | 2.39 | ||||
| 红菇属 Russula | 17 | 8.13 | ||||
| 栓菌属 Trametes | 5 | 2.39 |