A novel approach was developed using oil-in-water (O/W) microemulsions formed with non-ionic surfactant,
cosurfactant (1-pentanol) and linseed oil, at the cosurfactant to surfactant ratio (C/S ratio, w/w) of
1:3 and oil to surfactant ratio (O/S ratio, w/w) of 1:10, to enhance the biodegradation of DDT by the white
rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium. Results showed that microemulsions formed with Tween 80
effectively enhanced the biodegradation of DDT by P. chrysosporium and the enhancement was about
two times that of Tween 80 solution, while microemulsion formed with Triton X-100 exhibited negative
effect. Further studies revealed that microemulsion formed with Tween 80 enhanced the biodegradation
of DDT through transporting DDT from crystalline phase to mycelium as well as their positive effect on
the growth of P. chrysosporium; of these, the former is likely the most important and pre-requisite for the
biodegradation of DDT by P. chrysosporium.