Graphene environmental biodegradation: Wood degrading and saprotrophic fungi oxidize few-layer graphene

The environmental biodegradability profile of graphene related materials (GRMs) is important to know in order predict whether these will accumulate soil or be transformed by primary decomposers. In this study, few-layer (FLG) was exposed living and devitalized axenic cultures two white-rot basidiomycetes ( Bjerkandera adusta Phanerochaete chrysosporium ) one saprotrophic ascomycete Morchella esculenta with without lignin, for a period four months. Over time, the increase fungal biomass presence H 2 O oxidizing enzymes [laccase/peroxidase lignin peroxidase (LiP)] growth media assessed gravimetric spectrophotometric measurements, respectively. Raman spectroscopy transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used compare structure FLG before after incubation. All test fungi decreased pH released laccase/peroxidase, but only LiP. Independent composition all found capable oxidize oxide-like material, including M. esculenta, which i.e. most common among These findings suggest that involuntarily into terrestrial environments would likely oxidized microflora. • Few-layer several tested in-vivo. Diverse oxidation profiles revealed analysis hundreds flakes. A material repeatedly observed Enzymes other than model peroxidase, e.g. laccase, can FLG. results prone natural biodegradative processes.