Bioconversão simultânea de biomassa lignocelulósica e plástico por Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq). P. Kumm

Abstract

Improper disposal of plastic waste and organic by-products, such as straw, bagasse and peels, in landfills, exposed soils or waterways can release greenhouse gases and contaminate drinking water sources, affecting human health. However, the circular economy, by prioritizing reduction, reuse and recycling, transforms this waste into valuable resources, contributing to environmental improvement and emissions reduction. In this context, the use of fungi such as Pleurotus ostreatus has stood out for its ability to biodegrade organic and plastic waste simultaneously, integrating sustainable solutions for mushroom production and mitigation of environmental impacts. This study aimed to evaluate the development, production and bromatological characteristics of P. ostreatus from the degradation of plant and plastic waste. In addition, the chemical composition of the residual substrate was evaluated as a potential soil conditioner. The design was a DIC (2 x 2) using banana straw supplemented with two types of plastic, with and without inoculation of P. ostreatus, for 60 days. The straw was moistened to 70% with alkaline water, added 2% of wheat flour and supplemented with polypropylene (PP) and polystyrene (PS). The inoculation of the straw with P. ostreatus was done with colonized canary seed grains. The data underwent an ANAVA and the Tukey test (P≤0,05). In the results, the total fresh mass of mushrooms using PS was (130.8 g) compared to PP (126.48 g). Regarding precocity, the time required for harvest was with PS (9.4 days) and with PP (12.1 days). The protein content of the mushrooms reached 14.32% in PP and 15.13% in PS, while the carbohydrate content was 65.1% in PP and 66.4% in PS. The biological efficiency was 84.32% for PP and 87.2% for PS. The loss of organic matter (PMO) in the substrates inoculated with P. ostreatus was 50.71% in PP and 46.39% in PS. In the control treatments, without inoculation with P. ostreatus, the PMO values were 29.33% in PP and 33.79% in PS; statistically, the results did not indicate significant differences between treatments. However, a significant effect of the fungus on the composition of the residual substrate was observed. The treatment with polypropylene (PP) associated with P. ostreatus presented the second highest phosphorus content (318.45 mg/kg), suggesting that the activity of the fungus may favor the release or availability of this nutrient. It is concluded that P. ostreatus has the potential to promote the bioconversion of plastic and vegetable waste, producing quality food while contributing to the mitigation of environmental pollution. This approach can be a viable and sustainable alternative for waste management, combining the use of nutrients with the production of healthy food.