Transformation of free tetrachloroguaiacol to bound compounds by fungi isolated from Lake Bonney, south-eastern South Australia

Abstract

Chlorophenolic compounds have persisted in water and sediments of Lake Bonney, south- eastern South Australia, following discontinuation of chlorine bleaching at a sulfite-based pulp mill that discharges effluent into the lake. During assessment of the persistence of chlorophenolics, several species of fungi isolated from lake water and from a drain that discharges mill effluent into the lake were studied for their capacities to degrade these compounds. Epicoccum sp., Mucor circinelloides and Penicillium expansum decreased concentrations of the free form of tetrachloroguaiacol in a mineral-salts medium. This was due not to degradation of the compound but to conversion to bound forms. These bound forms of tetrachloroguaiacol were resistant to degradation by a T. harzianum isolate that had previously been found capable of degrading free tetrachloroguaiacol.