Use of sugarcane molasses by Pycnoporus sanguineus for the production of laccase for dye decolorization.

Pycnoporus sanguineus is a white-rot basidiomycete that produces laccase as the only oxidoreductase; enzyme synthesis depends on cultivation variables, and fungal species and strain. Laccases have wide substrate specificity, oxidize a broad range of compounds, and show potential for use in dye decolorization. We evaluated laccase production in a recently isolated strain of P. sanguineus cultivated with sugarcane molasses as the only carbon source, and urea or yeast extract as the nitrogen source [at various nitrogen concentrations (0.4, 1.4, 2.4, 3.4, and 4.4 g/L)], supplemented with copper (0, 150, 200, 250, and 300 µM), with or without agitation. The enzymatic extract produced at laccase peak activity was tested for dye decolorization capability on Remazol Brilliant Blue R, Reactive Black 5, Reactive Red 195, and Reactive Yellow 145. The nitrogen source did not affect enzyme production and the higher nitrogen concentration (3.4 g/L nitrogen as urea) increased enzymatic activity. The addition of up to 300 µM of Cu did not affect laccase production, whereas cultivation with agitation increased the activity peak by 17%. The highest laccase activity was ~50,000 U/L on the ninth day of cultivation. After 24 h, decolorization was 80% for Remazol Brilliant Blue R, 9% for Reactive Yellow 145, 6% for Reactive Red 195, and 2% for Reactive Black 5. The enzymatic extract of P. sanguineus provides a potential alternative to wastewater treatment. A better understanding of the behavior of this fungus under various culture conditions would allow improvement of the enzyme production bioprocess.