Fungal endophytes are an emerging source of novel traits and biomolecules suitable for lignocellulosic biomass treatment. This work documents the toxicity tolerance of Colletotrichum sp. OH toward various lignocellulosic pretreatment-derived inhibitors. The effects of aldehydes (vanillin, p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, furfural, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural; HMF), acids (gallic, formic, levulinic, and p-hydroxybenzoic acid), phenolics (hydroquinone, p-coumaric acid), and two pretreatment chemicals (hydrogen peroxide and ionic liquid), on the mycelium growth, biomass accumulation, and lignocellulolytic enzyme activities, were tested. The reported Colletotrichum sp. OH was naturally tolerant to high concentrations of single inhibitors like HMF (IC₅₀; 17.5 mM), levulinic acid (IC₅₀; 29.7 mM), hydroquinone (IC₅₀; 10.76 mM), and H₂O₂ (IC₅₀; 50 mM). The lignocellulolytic enzymes displayed a wide range of single and mixed inhibitor tolerance profiles. The enzymes β-glucosidase and endoglucanase showed H₂O₂- and HMF-dependent activity enhancements. The enzyme β-glucosidase activity was 34% higher in 75 mM and retained 20% activity in 125 mM H₂O₂. Further, β-glucosidase activity increased to 24 and 32% in the presence of 17.76 and 8.8 mM HMF. This research suggests that the Colletotrichum sp. OH, or its enzymes, can be used to pretreat plant biomass, hydrolyze it, and remove inhibitory by-products.

Growing concerns about environmental pollution and the overuse of natural resources have increased interest in sustainable ways to manage waste and control pollution. One promising approach is the use of fruit waste (FW) as a biosorbent and as a feedstock for biochar production. FW including peels, rinds, and fibers from various tropical and subtropical fruits offers an eco-friendly, low-cost alternative to conventional sorbents for removing heavy metals, dyes, organic pollutants, and other toxic substances from water and soil. These materials possess high sorption capacities and are readily available, aligning with the principles of a circular economy by turning waste into a valuable resource. Through pyrolysis, FW can also be converted into biochar, a porous carbonaceous solid that enhances soil quality, reduces nutrient leaching, and supports land remediation efforts. Despite high pollutant removal efficiencies reported in laboratory studies, such as over 90% for dyes and organic contaminants, challenges remain, including variability in waste composition, pretreatment requirements, and potential environmental impact of chemical modifications. Ongoing research focuses on improving biosorbent performance through nanomaterial integration, green functionalization methods, and the development of multifunctional sorbents. Advances in process optimization and automation, such as continuous-flow systems, further improve scalability. Additionally, integrating biosorption with complementary green technologies like phytoremediation and microbial biotechnology may enhance overall remediation efficiency. As policy and market incentives increasingly promote sustainability, biosorption using FW represents a viable strategy for environmental remediation and sustainable development.