Using volatile organic compounds to enhance atrazine biodegradation in a biobed system

Abstract

The effect of the terpenes alpha-pinene, eucalyptol, and limonene, individually and as mixtures, on atrazine (ATZ) biodegradation and on biological activity in a biobed biomixture was evaluated. Additionally, terpenes emitted from the biomixture were captured using solid-phase microextraction. Terpenes added individually at relatively low concentrations (50 mu g kg(-1)) significantly enhanced ATZ degradation and biological activity during the first incubation days. No significant effect on ATZ degradation was found from adding the terpene mixture, and, interestingly, an inhibitory effect on phenoloxidase activity was found during the first 20 days of incubation when mixed terpenes were present at 100 mu g kg(-1). Capturing terpenes demonstrated that during the first hour of incubation a significant fraction of the terpenes was volatilized. These results are the first to demonstrate the feasibility of using terpenes to enhance the degradation of a pesticide. However, successive applications of terpenes or the addition of materials that slowly release terpenes could sustain the ATZ degradation enhancement.

Keywords

Biobeds; Atrazine; Biomixture; Biodegradation; Terpenes

Published in

Biodegradation
2013, Volume: 24, number: 5, pages: 711-720 Publisher: SPRINGER

SLU Authors

• Stenström, John

  • Department of Molecular Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Microbiology


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10532-013-9619-4

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/53077