Fungi: mycelia, mushrooms & more

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Mycorrhizal networks
Mycoremediation for land restoration, water mycofiltration etc
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mushroomgrowers@lemmy.ca
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solo@slrpnk.net

Waste-eating mushrooms digest plastic & become ingredient to make chocolate protein bars (www.designboom.com)

submitted 1 month ago by solo@slrpnk.net to c/fungus@slrpnk.net

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the Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) digests PET plastic, often found in bottles and packaging; the Turkey Tail Mushroom (Trametes versicolor) eats LDPE plastic, commonly used in grocery bags; and the Split Gill Mushroom (Schizophyllum commune) dissolves PUR plastic, used in foams and coatings. These fungi convert plastic molecules into simple carbon-based compounds. After decomposition, they leave no toxic waste behind, and the result is clean, organic matter suitable for cultivation and food production.

Note: no affiliation whatsoever with this product

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[–] M1ch431@slrpnk.net 10 points 1 month ago (2 children)

I suppose I'd want to see comprehensive lab reports, but it's nice to know that fungi can digest plastic.

[–] solo@slrpnk.net 10 points 1 month ago (1 children)

It looks like this project is based on this 2011 mycoremediation study that is linked in this article. Maybe you will find there what you are looking for, the comprehensive lab reports I mean.

[–] M1ch431@slrpnk.net 2 points 1 month ago

Thanks for that!

[–] acockworkorange@mander.xyz 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I'm not a fan of the chocolate thing, but even if we don't eat it, it's a big win.

[–] M1ch431@slrpnk.net 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Yep, exactly! This is a best-case solution as it is presumably easy to scale and adapt.