Filamentous Fungi as Bioremediation Agents of Industrial Effluents: A Systematic Review

The industrial sector plays a significant role in global economic growth. However, it also produces polluting effluents that must be treated to prevent environmental damage and ensure the quality of life for future generations is not compromised. Various physical, chemical, and biological methods have been employed to treat industrial effluents. Filamentous fungi, in particular, have garnered attention as effective bioremediation agents due to their ability to produce enzymes capable of degrading recalcitrant compounds, and adsorb different pollutant molecules. The novelty of the work reported herein lies in its comprehensive assessment of the research surrounding the use of white- and brown-rot fungi for removing phenolic compounds from industrial effluents. This study employs a systematic review coupled with scientometric analysis to provide insights into the evolution of this technology over time. It scrutinizes geographical distribution, identifies research gaps and trends, and highlights the most studied fungal species and their applications. A systematic review of 464 publications from 1945 to 2023 assessed the use of these fungi in removing phenolic compounds from industrial effluents. White-rot fungi were predominant (96.3%), notably Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Pleurotus ostreatus, Trametes versicolor, and Lentinula edodes. The cultures employing free cells (64.15%) stand out over those using immobilized cells, just like cultures with isolated fungi regarding systems with microbial consortia. Geographically, Italy, Spain, Greece, India, and Brazil emerged as the most prominent countries in publications related to this area during the evaluated period.