Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences: Research Areas

Article Title: Cleaning Up Crude And Engine Oil Pollution With The Fungus Ganoderma Sessile: A Hands-On Research Project To Train Environmental Technology Students
by Lauretta N. Ofodile, Goodness D. Obayemi, Omalabake O. Asulewon

Abstract:
Some Ganoderma mushrooms are reported to biodegrade hydrocarbons using their enzymatic system. This paper reports on the capability of Ganoderma sessile to degrade crude oil and spent engine oil (SEO) in liquid cultures using mycoremediation techniques. It also acts as an outline for embedding practical bioremediation research into the TVET curriculum, which aims to build hands-on skills in fungal culturing, pollution control and hydrocarbon degradation analysis. Considering the critical environmental destruction caused by petroleum pollutants, the research assesses mycoremediation as environmental cleanup method. An active culture of G. sessile that was prepared in potato dextrose agar was subcultured using the same medium. The seven-day old mycelial culture of the G. sessile was inoculated in a mineral salt in 1L of water contaminated with 20% and 30% each of crude oil or SEO and incubated for 30 days. UV-Vis spectroscopy was used to monitor the mycelia growth, measuring absorbance at 600 nm, while the hydrocarbon degradation was assessed using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). G. sessile showed moderate growth with a distinct decline phase. In SEO-contaminated media, G. sessile showed robust growth. GC-MS analysis confirmed that Ganoderma sessile significantly degraded hydrocarbons, particularly BTEX compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene) and some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), though some high-molecular-weight hydrocarbons persisted. The study highlights the Ganoderma species as an effective bioremediation agent, showing promise in SEO degradation. These findings underscore fungal mycoremediation as a viable, eco-friendly approach to petroleum pollution cleanup. This procedure should be incorporated into the environmental technology laboratory curriculum for training students to design community-led oil spill response projects using local fungal species.

Keywords: Ganoderma, Biodegradation, Skills, Mycelia and Spectroscopy

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