Water pollution from industrial and agricultural activities is a growing environmental concern, especially in regions with high population densities and intensive land use. Conventional wastewater treatment methods are costly and often ineffective at removing persistent organic pollutants. A recent study published in Beni-Suef University Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences (Serag et al., 2025) explores a promising alternative: the use of endophytic fungi for wastewater remediation.
Harnessing Fungi for Wastewater Cleanup
Researchers from Damietta University in Egypt tested the ability of three Aspergillus species—A. flavipes, A. niger, and A. flavus—to remove contaminants from industrial and agricultural wastewater. The fungi were isolated from the bark of Acacia saligna, a plant known for its symbiotic microbial communities.
The fungi were cultured in a liquid medium before being introduced to wastewater samples collected from New Damietta. Over 25 days, researchers monitored key water quality parameters, including chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BOD), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), turbidity, and salinity.
Fungal Efficiency in Water Purification
Each fungal species demonstrated specific strengths in pollutant removal:
Aspergillus niger was the most effective at reducing COD, with removal rates of 99% in industrial wastewater and 99.8% in agricultural wastewater. COD is a key indicator of organic pollution.
Aspergillus flavipes showed high efficiency in removing phosphorus (78%) and turbidity (91%) in agricultural wastewater.
Aspergillus flavus excelled at BOD reduction (76% in industrial wastewater, 66% in agricultural wastewater), indicating its potential for breaking down biodegradable pollutants.
All three fungi contributed to significant reductions in TN, turbidity, and total dissolved solids (TDS), improving overall water quality.
Aspergillus niger - Image credits: Jannicke Wiik Nielsen
These results highlight the potential of fungal mycoremediation as an affordable, sustainable approach to wastewater treatment. Unlike conventional chemical treatments, fungal biosorption and enzymatic breakdown processes require minimal infrastructure and can function in low-nutrient environments.
The fungi’s ability to remove pollutants stems from their extracellular enzymes and complex cell wall structures, which bind and degrade contaminants. A. niger, for instance, produces manganese peroxidase, an enzyme that aids in breaking down organic pollutants.
Challenges and Future Applications
While promising, fungal wastewater treatment still faces challenges:
Scalability: Implementing fungal bioreactors at an industrial scale requires further optimisation.
Selective Efficiency: Some fungi perform better for specific pollutants, requiring tailored applications.
Regulatory Acceptance: Widespread adoption depends on regulatory frameworks recognising fungi-based treatment as a viable alternative.
Researchers suggest integrating fungal treatments with existing wastewater systems or using fungi as a preliminary treatment to reduce pollutant loads before conventional treatment.
The study by Serag et al. (2025) reinforces the role of fungi in environmental biotechnology. As water scarcity intensifies, low-cost, nature-based solutions like mycoremediation could play a crucial role in sustainable wastewater management. With further research and pilot-scale implementation, fungi might soon transition from laboratory studies to real-world wastewater treatment facilities, offering an eco-friendly alternative to traditional methods.