THE APPLICATION OF FUNGUS, P.OSTREATUS IN THE REMOVAL OF DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES

Abstract

Fungus, Pleurotus ostreatus was used in this present study to remove dangerous substance including heavy metals and naphthalene which commonly exist in both water and soil. These chemicals should be removed due to their toxicity characteristics. However the conventional removal methods have some limitations where there is a need to introduce alternative method biologically. The removal of naphthalene from soil and heavy metal ions from chemical waste had proved the capabilities of Pleurotus ostreatus in the removal of dangerous chemical at higher efficiency. Furthermore, almost Fe(II) 17.02%, Cu(II) 46.6%, Pb(II) 76% and Zn(II) 17.88% of Zn(II) are successfully being removed from chemical waste under suitable treatment conditions. In the removal of naphthalene from the soil, 84% of it being degraded and further enhanced with additional of oil palm fibre (OPF) as nutrient for Pleurotus ostreatus to 98% within 22 days, respectively. This validates that a Pleurotus ostreatus is a good biosorbent agent in the removal of dangerous chemicals.