Mycoremediation of Xenobiotics: Harnessing Fungi for Environmental Detoxification

This book presents a scientific exploration into the use of fungal enzymes to degrade persistent environmental pollutants. It combines foundational theory, emerging research, and real-world case studies to showcase fungi’s role in mitigating chemical contamination.

The book begins by outlining the global threat posed by xenobiotics--synthetic compounds like pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and industrial chemicals--and the limitations of conventional remediation strategies. Early chapters delve into the biology of fungi, highlighting their powerful enzymatic systems such as laccases and peroxidases. These systems underpin the mycoremediation process, offering eco-friendly alternatives for detoxifying harmful pollutants.

Subsequent chapters explore fungal degradation mechanisms, including enzymatic pathways, metabolic routes, and genomic insights. Readers will find extensive coverage of bioreactor design, large-scale applications, and case studies across various environmental settings. The book also addresses the technological, regulatory, and economic challenges of implementing mycoremediation, concluding with future prospects in synthetic biology, CRISPR-engineered fungi, and policy development.

This comprehensive resource is tailored for a diverse audience including environmental scientists, microbiologists, biotechnologists, engineers, policymakers, and advanced students. Whether for academic research, policy formulation, or field application, this book serves as an essential reference for those seeking sustainable solutions to the growing threat of xenobiotic contamination through fungal biotechnology.

Dr. Arpita Roy (Ph.D) is working as an Assistant Professor in the School of Bioscience and Technology (Department of Biotechnology) at Sharda University, Greater Noida. She obtained her M.Tech (Industrial Biotechnology) and Ph.D (Biotechnology) from Delhi Technological University. Her areas of interest include Plant Biotechnology, Environmental Biotechnology, Green nanoparticle synthesis and Microbiology. She has published more than 120 papers in peer-reviewed journals (h-index 47; i-index 132; Total citation >7500), 11 patent published, 30 books chapters and edited 12 books. She has qualified GATE, CSIR-UGC-NET and ICAR-ASRB NET. Enlisted in Top 2% scientists in the world for consecutive four years (Stan-ford University report published - 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025). Catalyst (MDPI), Highly cited paper in 2020-2021 in the section ＂Nanostructured Catalysts＂. Edited several special issues in different journals. She is also a recipient of ＂Commendable Research Excellence Award DTU 2019, 2020 and 2021＂ from Delhi Technological University, Delhi. She has presented more than 15 papers in national and international conferences.

Dr. Soumya Pandit is a senior assistant professor at Sharda University, Greater Noida, Delhi NCR, India. He pursued his doctoral studies from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur and completed his postdoctoral research work (PBC fellow) at the Department of Desalination and Water Treatment, The Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research (ZIWR), Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. He is a recipient of North West University, South Arica Post-doctoral fellowship. He has authored one textbook on Industrial Biotechnology and edited 10 books. He has authored more than 155 scopus indexed journal papers, 70+ book chapters and published 24 Indian patents (11 granted) so far (H index - 54). He holds a B.Tech and M.Tech in Biotechnology. His current research focuses on microbial electrochemical systems for bioenergy harvesting, biohythane, bacterial biofilm, phytochemicals and biofouling study, etc. He has also presented his work at several national and international conferences and received a few best Oral and poster awards from NITs. Recently, he is heading the ＂centre for Phytochemical research＂ at Sharda University where he is working with antibiofilm study using plant extract.

Dr. Mukesh Nandave is Associate Professor in Deptartment of Pharmacology at Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research University, Govt. of NCT of Delhi, New Delhi. He earned his Ph.D in Pharmacology from AIIMS, Delhi and received his Post-Doctoral training from the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, the Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, USA. Since more than 19 years He has been investigating the role of nutraceuticals, herbomineral formulations, plant extracts and phytoconstituents for Myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury, Diabetes, Obesity, Pain management. He has published more than 75 papers in peer-reviewed national and international journals. His lab received more than 2 crore total funding from Govt. as well as industry including Pharmazz, Dabur, Charak, Madhavbaug, Sandu etc. He has received numerous awards including G. Achari Gold Medal by Indian Pharmacological Society; Association of Pharmaceutical Teachers of India (APTI) Young Pharmacy Teacher of the Year Award, Early Investigator Award by International Society for Heart Research, Prof. Duggirala Visweswaram and Prof.Sreemantula Satyanarayana Prize; Best Research Output of the Year for 2014-2015, 2013-2014, and 2012-2013 Award＂ of SVKM’s NMIMS University and the Indus Foundation’s Award for Research Excellence. He is a life member of various professional bodies including International Society for Heart Research (ISHR), International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences (IACS); Indian Pharmacological Society (IPS). He is also Secretary General of International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences (IACS), India Section.