Benzo(a)pyrene degradation by the interaction of <i>Aspergillus brasilensis</i> and <i>Sphigobacterium spiritovorum</i> in wastewater: optimisation and kinetic response

Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) is a well-known environmental contaminant that poses significant risks due to its carcinogenic nature and it is crucial to remove it from the environment, especially in wastewater. Thus, this study aims to enhance the degradation of BaP in wastewater through the optimised interaction of the fungus <i>Aspergillus brasiliensis</i> and the bacterium <i>Sphingomonas spiritovorum</i>. The ideal initial pH and temperature ranges for optimising BaP breakdown were determined using response surface methodology (RSM). For that, the range of initial pH chosen was pH 4-9 and the temperature was between 25℃ - 40℃. The first-order kinetic was used to determine the kinetic response for monoculture and co-culture. The co-culture of <i>A. brasiliensis</i> and <i>S. spiritovorum</i> successfully produced a BaP removal rate of over 50%, which was much higher than the removal rates observed in monoculture treatments under optimisation conditions. The kinetic response was obtained with 0.067 d^-¹ (<i>A. brasiliensis</i>), 0.127 d^-¹ (<i>S.spriritovorum</i>) and 0.144 d^-¹ (co-culture) for the degradation rate constant, K. The degradation half-life time, t_1/2 shows the decrement for the co-culture (4.83 days) compared to monoculture. The increased degradation has been attributed to the synergistic biochemical pathways, in which fungal ligninolytic enzymes initiate the breakdown of BaP, followed by bacterial degradation of the resulting compounds. The study's results, which have been validated by Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), offer insightful information for the enhancement of bioremediation strategies. This information is practicable for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers in the context of addressing carcinogenic pollutants in wastewater.