Mycoremediation of Soil Contaminated with Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) Bags using Fungus (Pleurotus ostreatus Jacq. Ex. Fr.)

Abstract

Mycoremediation of soil contaminated with coloured and transparent low density polyethylene bags using the fungus (Pleurotus ostreatus J. Ex. Fr.) were investigated .The fungal spawn was multiplied under laboratory conditions using 78% sawdust, 1% sucrose, 20% wheat bran, 1% calcium and 65% of water. The fungi ramified from this medium were used to investigate its capacity in remediation of soils contaminated with transparent and coloured polyethylene. Equal quantities of the fungi were introduced into similar quantities of coloured and transparent low density polyethylene respectively. Multiplication of fungal spawn lasted for two months while the remediation process lasted for four months. The result showed significant difference (P<0.05) in the fixed carbon content of myco-remediated soil compared to the control and that of soil devoid of organic matter. Numerical values were 30.33, 32.78 and 32.53 respectively for soil devoid of organic content, non remediated soil and myco-remediated soil. The cation contents were also significantly better in the mycoremediated soil (P<0.05) than that of non remediated soil except for zinc and iron.