Arsenic biotransformation by arsenic-resistant fungi Trichoderma asperellum SM-12F1, Penicillium janthinellum SM-12F4, and Fusarium oxysporum CZ-8F1 Original Research Article

Bioremediation of arsenic (As)-contaminated soil using microorganisms has been a focus of research because it is environment friendly and cost-effective. The As-resistant fungi Trichoderma asperellum SM-12F1, Penicillium janthinellum SM-12F4, and Fusarium oxysporum CZ-8F1 were exposed to 50 mg l− 1 of As(V), and the biotransformation of As and the concomitant variance of Eh and pH in the media were studied. Fresh weights of all three isolates increased and then decreased depended on cultivation period. After cultivation for 2 or 3 days, the As(V) added to the media had been completely changed into As(III), whilst As(V) was predominate in fungal cells with concomitantly little As(III) during cultivation. After 15 days, little monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) besides of As(V) and As(III) were found in the cells of T. asperellum SM-12F1, and the total As content was the highest in cells of P. janthinellum SM-12F4 (about 41.5 μg) according to the quantitative analysis of As speciation in cultures. Moreover, when cultivation period reached 3 days, the Eh and pH in the media of T. asperellum SM-12F1 (312.5 mV and 4.8), P. janthinellum SM-12F4 (411.1 mV and 4.2), and F. oxysporum CZ-8F1 (269.4 mV and 4.8) might not responsible for the reduction of As(V) based on the previous study. Therefore, it is speculated that import/export, reduction, and methylation of As are conducted in fungal cells. Future studies investigating the biochemical behaviour of fungi responding to As are needed to gain a better understanding of bioremediation of As-contaminated soils.