Anais do Congresso Paranaense de Microbiologia
IV Congress of Microbiology in Paraná

The incorrect disposal of materials represents one of the main environmental problems encountered in modern societies. Synthetic polymers, such as plastics, have chemical and physical properties that are unfavorable for degradation, and when disposed of incorrectly, accumulate in terrestrial and aquatic environments, requiring a long time to degrade. Similarly, the agricultural industry, which represents an essential part of the Brazilian economy, is responsible for the formation of organic waste that causes immeasurable impacts to the environment when disposed of incorrectly. Fungi of the genus Ganoderma can decompose lignocellulosic materials, rich in long carbonic chains through their enzymatic apparatus, which can be applied in the biodegradation of plastic and organic residues, giving these materials energetic and economic value. The formation of a mycelial biomaterial from solid fermentation allows the development of technology free of toxic pollutants with future potential for the use of these materials. The fungus used was collected on the campus of the State University of Londrina, Londrina - PR, Brazil. With the use of a sterile scalpel, an internal portion of the pileus was removed and placed in a Petri dish with Sabouraud Agar plus chloramphenicol, incubated for seven days at 25 ºC. To optimize the fungus growth and the process of obtaining the biomold, four different concentrations of substrates were tested in the preparation of the Spawn. These were: sawdust from sawmills, oat flakes, coffee grounds, and beer brewery waste, at 0%, 25% and 50% concentration. For the development of the biomold, substrates defined in a previous study were used, in the proportion of 70% malt, 27% agricultural gypsum, 2% sawdust, 1% plastic waste, with the addition of 5% Spawn to the substrate, kept in disinfected plastic containers, incubated for 14 days at 25 ºC. Afterward, the biomold was dried in a stove for 1 hour at 60 ºC. Among the proportions evaluated in the composition of the Spawn, the one composed of 25% sawdust, 25% flaked oats, 25% coffee grounds and 25% brewery waste, showed better fungal development after the incubation period in comparison with the other concentrations tested. In the formed biomold, the growth of Ganoderma sp. could be observed in the plastic and organic wastes present in the substrate. Thus, it can be inferred that during the growth of the microorganism enzymes capable of degrading these recalcitrant residues were produced, representing a favorable technology to the environment with easy access to raw materials.