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Abstract

This thesis explores the engineering of pure mycelium materials as sustainable, functional alternatives to conventional synthetic materials for pollution control. By systematically investigating the influence of fungal species and bioprocessing methods, this work demonstrates that mycelium networks can be tailored to yield materials with tunable network morphology, mechanical strength, and surface chemistry. Compared to liquid state fermentation, solid-state fermentation produced dense mycelial mats with high chitin content and superior mechanical properties. Submerged fermentation methods enabled the formation of porous sheets with high strength values relative to static fermentation methods and a high mannoprotein content. These findings reveal the tunability of fungal material properties and underscore the importance of bioprocess control in designing materials for specific applications. Building on these insights, mycelium-derived materials were applied to address pressing environmental challenges in air and water remediation. Mycelium-modified mask layers achieved high particulate filtration efficiency (up to 97% for PM2.5) with breathability comparable to commercial masks and exhibited asymmetric hydrophobicity for improved moisture management. In water treatment, mycelium membranes demonstrated high adsorption capacities for heavy metals (up to 73.2 mg/g for Cu(II)), outperforming other low cost, biobased adsorbents, and retained performance over multiple regeneration cycles. Hybrid membranes incorporating cellulose nanofibrils further balanced water flux and metal rejection. Additionally, mycelium-based membranes with immobilized laccase were produced for the effective degradation of phenolic pollutants, maintaining high catalytic activity and stability over repeated use. Application of the enzyme-mycelium membrane to water contaminated with azo dye Congo Red resulted in a reduction of 92% of dye using optimal immobilization conditions. By bridging fungal biology, materials science, and environmental engineering, this thesis highlights mycelium as a next-generation sustainable technology. This work demonstrates that materials can be grown, not manufactured, providing solutions for pollution mitigation while reducing reliance on petrochemicals.