Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

This study investigates the potential for valorisation of textile waste by reviewing its availability, properties, and current waste-management practices, and by compiling existing research on fungal degradation of textile materials. To address key research questions, a literature review was combined with four experiments evaluating the growth of two white-rot fungi on commonly available textiles, including tests of fungal growth on six fabrics, the creation of mycelium–denim biocomposites, measurements of fungal respiration, and SEM analyses of cotton and polyester fibres exposed to white-rot fungal enzyme extracts. Results show that white-rot fungi generally grow better on natural fibres than synthetic ones, with viscose as an exception, and that denim forms a more robust biocomposite with Ganoderma lucidum than with Pleurotus ostreatus. Respiration tended to be higher on cotton than polycotton, although this was only significant at three points for P. ostreatus, and respiration by G. lucidum was similar across the two fabrics. Enzymes suspensions of white-rot fungi showed degradative effects on cotton but not polyester. Overall, the findings indicate clear potential for using textile waste as a substrate for white-rot fungi to support biomaterial production and textile waste management, while highlighting the need for further research on fungi–substrate compatibility, degradation mechanisms, and standardised methods for tracking textile degradation.