Biodegradation of Furanic aldehydes by a bacterial consortium: Toward sustainable biofuel production and industrial wastewater detoxification

Biodegradation of Furanic aldehydes by a bacterial consortium: Toward sustainable biofuel production and industrial wastewater detoxification Full article

Journal

Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances
ISSN: 2772-4166

Output data

Year: 2026, Volume: 21, Article number : 101026, Pages count : DOI: 10.1016/j.hazadv.2026.101026

Authors

Golysheva Anastasia N. ¹ , Belousova Tatyana S. ¹ , Lantsova Elizaveta A. ¹ , Arlyapov Vyacheslav A. ¹ , Karlinskii Bogdan Ya. ^1,2 , Ananikov Valentine P. ²

Affiliations

1	BioChemTech Research Center, Tula State University, Lenin pr. 92, Tula 300012, Russia
2	Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninsky pr. 47, Moscow 119991, Russia

Accumulation of furanic aldehydes, including furfural (FF) and 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural (HMF), poses a major bottleneck in some microbial conversions of lignocellulosic biomass to bioethanol. These compounds significantly impair microbial activity in both biofuel fermentation and industrial wastewater treatment systems. In this study, a microbial consortium composed of Rhodococcus erythropolis Ac-858, Rhodococcus fascians Ac-1462, and Pseudomonas veronii B-877 was developed and evaluated for its capacity to biodegrade FF and HMF under model bioreactor conditions. The consortium demonstrated complete degradation of FF (4 g/L) within 48 hours under aerobic conditions and substantial conversion of HMF to non-toxic intermediates. Distinct metabolic pathways were observed depending on aeration intensity: FF and HMF were reduced to furfuryl alcohol and 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan (BHMF) under aerobic conditions, while oxidation under oxygen limitation produced furoic acid and 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA). The synergistic action between P. veronii (reductive) and Rhodococcus spp. (oxidative) was confirmed. Scanning electron microscopy and fractal analysis revealed significant morphological stress responses to furanic aldehydes, with species-specific adaptation patterns. Phytotoxicity tests with Lepidium sativum (watercress) and Lemna spp. (duckweed) showed that the treated culture fluid, after appropriate dilution, met safety thresholds for environmental discharge. This study introduces a biologically based strategy for efficient removal of furanic inhibitors in bioethanol production and industrial effluents, with potential scalability and compliance with discharge regulations. The findings offer a promising route toward improving the environmental sustainability and economic viability of biorefinery and wastewater treatment technologies.

Golysheva A.N. , Belousova T.S. , Lantsova E.A. , Arlyapov V.A. , Karlinskii B.Y. , Ananikov V.P.
Biodegradation of Furanic aldehydes by a bacterial consortium: Toward sustainable biofuel production and industrial wastewater detoxification
Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances. 2026. V.21. 101026 . DOI: 10.1016/j.hazadv.2026.101026 OpenAlex

Submitted:	Aug 5, 2025
Published online:	Jan 20, 2026

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