Studies on decolourisation of synthetic dyes using spent mushroom substrates

Abstract

Mushroom cultivation generates two main end products, comprised of the mushroom fruit body and the substrate known as spent mushroom substrate (SMS). Substrate is considered as spent when one full crop of mushroom is harvested and further extension of the period become unremunerative. For each metric tons of fruit bodies of mushrooms produced, at least an equivalent amount of spent mushroom substrate is generated, and this needs to be disposed.This disposal can be costly because it is bulky in nature. During the previous year s efforts have been made to find out amicable ways to dispose of spent mushroom substrate after crop harvest newlinebecause if it is left unattended it may cause environmental problems including nuisance. On the other side, wastewater from textile industries poses a threat to the environment in a large part of the world. The use of microorganisms or their enzyme systems are the two different biological approaches widely practiced for treatment of hazardous chemicals and effluents. The present study was planned after giving due considerations to the physico-chemical, microbiological and newlinebiochemical properties of spent mushroom substrate, as it may act as a good bioremediative agent. In the present study spent substrate of Pleurotus sajor-caju and Agaricus bisporus had been studied for extracellular ligninolytic enzymes and dyes decolourisation potential.