ABSTRACT
The ability of fungi to degrade aniline and its derivatives in water is reported. Several fungi are able to degrade aniline and its derivatives as a sole nitrogen, carbon and energy source. Some of these fungi were obtained from activated sludge by enrichment technique. Among the 10 studied fungi, Fusarium sp. and Rhizopus sp. utilize aniline as a sole nitrogen, carbon and energy source, with production of acetanilide and catechol. Fusarium sp. utilized 70% of 10 mmol aniline and produced 3.55 mM ammonia during 30 days. Rhizopus sp. utilized 65% of 10 mmol aniline during 30 days. Rhizopus sp. and Fusarium sp. utilized only 2-chloroaniline and 3-chloroaniline as nitrogen source in the presence of glucose, with production of catechol, ammonium and chloride. The utilization of 2-chloroaniline was better than 3-chloroaniline, by Fusarium sp. and Rhizopus sp. Cladosporium sp. was the best isolate which could use aniline blue as the only source of nitrogen. This fungus reduced 89% of aniline blue, and ammonia is produced as the result of aniline blue biodegradation by Cladosporium sp.
