Oil-in-water microemulsions enhance the biodegradation of DDT by Phanerochaete chrysosporium

A novel approach was developed using oil-in-water (O/W) microemulsions formed with non-ionic surfactant, cosurfactant (1-pentanol) and linseed oil, at the cosurfactant to surfactant ratio (C/S ratio, w/w) of 1:3 and oil to surfactant ratio (O/S ratio, w/w) of 1:10, to enhance the biodegradation of DDT by the white rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium. Results showed that microemulsions formed with Tween 80 effectively enhanced the biodegradation of DDT by P. chrysosporium and the enhancement was about two times that of Tween 80 solution, while microemulsion formed with Triton X-100 exhibited negative effect. Further studies revealed that microemulsion formed with Tween 80 enhanced the biodegradation of DDT through transporting DDT from crystalline phase to mycelium as well as their positive effect on the growth of P. chrysosporium; of these, the former is likely the most important and pre-requisite for the biodegradation of DDT by P. chrysosporium.