Nicotine Degradation by Trametes versicolor: Insights from Diverse Environmental Stressors and Wastewater Medium

Nicotine, a major alkaloid in tobacco, poses significant environmental risks due to its persistence in wastewater. This study explores the degradation of naturally extracted nicotine from tobacco leaves by the white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor, aiming to assess its biodegradation capacity under diverse environmental stressors. Nicotine was extracted using a NaOH–petroleum ether method and confirmed through Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Biodegradation experiments were conducted using potato dextrose broth and synthetic wastewater as growth media under varying pH (2.5 and 5.20) and temperatures (25 °C and 37 °C). Fungal growth and nicotine degradation were monitored through biomass quantification and NMR-based analysis. Optimal degradation occurred at 25 °C and pH 5.20, particularly in synthetic wastewater, suggesting enhanced fungal adaptation in complex media. Degradation efficiency ranged from 80% to 99%, with synthetic wastewater outperforming conventional media. Extreme conditions, such as pH 2.5 at 37 °C, significantly hindered fungal growth. These findings demonstrate T. versicolor’s potential for effective nicotine removal in wastewater and highlight the environmental parameters critical to its performance. This work supports the development of sustainable fungal-based bioremediation strategies for managing nicotine contamination in aquatic environments.