Metabolism of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by Aspergillus niger.

Aspergillus niger metabolised polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons such as naphthalene, anthracene and phenanthrene. The maximum weight of mycelium was obtained at 8-10 days of incubation. TLC and HPLC analysis revealed the accumulation of metabolites in resting cell culture. The metabolism of naphthalene and anthracene follows the gentisate pathway, where as phenenthrene was metabolised via protocatechuate in this organism.