Simultaneous biodegradation ofp-cresol and phenol by the basidiomycetePhanerochaete chrysosporium

The fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium BKM-F-1767 was able to degrade high concentrations of p-cresol (up to 150 mg L-1) provided that glucose was added as a carbon and energy source and conditions favourable to ligninolytic enzyme activities were used, i.e. a nitrogen-limited medium. The fungus also simultaneously degraded p-cresol (50 mg L-1) and phenol (50 mg L-1) in a mixture at similar rates. Kinetics of p-cresol biodegradation were almost identical whether the compound was tested individually or in a mixture with phenol.