Biodegradation of endosulfan-contaminated soil in a pilot-scale reactor-bioaugmented with mixed bacterial culture

A novel mixed bacterial culture was enriched from an endosulfan (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10 - hexachloro-1, 5, 5a, 6, 9, 9a-hexahydro-6, 9-methano-2, 3, 4-benzo (e) dioxathiepin-3-oxide) processing industrial surface soil. The cultures were successful in the degradation of aqueous phase endosulfan in both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Using the cultures, endosulfan degradation in silty gravel with sand (GM) was examined via pilot scale reactor at an endosulfan concentration of 0.78 +/- 0.01 mg g(- 1) of soil, and optimized moisture content of 40 +/- 1%. During operation, vertical spatial variability in endosulfan degradation was observed within the reactor. At the end of 56 days, maximum endosulfan degradation efficiency of 78 +/- 0.2% and 86.91 +/- 0.2% was observed in the top and bottom portion of the reactor, respectively. Both aerobic and anaerobic conditions were observed within the reactor. However, endosulfan degradation was predominant in anaerobic condition and the total protein concentration in the reactor was declined progressively down the soil depth. Throughout the study, no known intermediate metabolites of endosulfan reported by previous researchers were observed.     

Enrichment and Isolation of a Mixed Bacterial Culture for Complete Mineralization of Endosulfan

In the present study, we isolated three novel bacterial species, namely, Staphylococcus sp., Bacillus circulans–I, and Bacillus circulans–II, from contaminated soil collected from the premises of a pesticide manufacturing industry. Batch experiments were conducted using both mixed and pure cultures to assess their potential for the degradation of aqueous endosulfan in aerobic and facultative anaerobic condition. The influence of supplementary carbon (dextrose) source on endosulfan degradation was also examined. After four weeks of incubation, mixed bacterial culture was able to degrade 71.82 ± 0.2% and 76.04 ± 0.2% of endosulfan in aerobic and facultative anaerobic conditions, respectively, with an initial endosulfan concentration of 50 mg l^?1. Addition of dextrose to the system amplified the endosulfan degradation efficiency by 13.36 ± 0.6% in aerobic system and 12.33 ± 0.6% in facultative anaerobic system. Pure culture studies were carried out to quantify the degradation potential of these individual species. Among the three species, Staphylococcus sp. utilized more beta endosulfan compared to alpha endosulfan in facultative anaerobic system, whereas Bacillus circulans–I and Bacillus circulans–II utilized more alpha endosulfan compared to beta endosulfan in aerobic system. In any of these degradation studies no known intermediate metabolites of endosulfan were observed.     

Enrichment and isolation of a mixed bacterial culture for complete mineralization of endosulfan

In the present study, we isolated three novel bacterial species, namely, Staphylococcus sp., Bacillus circulans-I, and Bacillus circulans-II, from contaminated soil collected from the premises of a pesticide manufacturing industry. Batch experiments were conducted using both mixed and pure cultures to assess their potential for the degradation of aqueous endosulfan in aerobic and facultative anaerobic condition. The influence of supplementary carbon (dextrose) source on endosulfan degradation was also examined. After four weeks of incubation, mixed bacterial culture was able to degrade 71.82 +/- 0.2% and 76.04 +/- 0.2% of endosulfan in aerobic and facultative anaerobic conditions, respectively, with an initial endosulfan concentration of 50 mg l(-1). Addition of dextrose to the system amplified the endosulfan degradation efficiency by 13.36 +/- 0.6% in aerobic system and 12.33 +/- 0.6% in facultative anaerobic system. Pure culture studies were carried out to quantify the degradation potential of these individual species. Among the three species, Staphylococcus sp. utilized more beta endosulfan compared to alpha endosulfan in facultative anaerobic system, whereas Bacillus circulans-I and Bacillus circulans-II utilized more alpha endosulfan compared to beta endosulfan in aerobic system. In any of these degradation studies no known intermediate metabolites of endosulfan were observed.     

Kinetics of the biodegradation pathway of endosulfan in the aerobic and anaerobic environments

The enriched mixed culture aerobic and anaerobic bacteria from agricultural soils were used to study the degradation of endosulfan (ES) in aqueous and soil slurry environments. The extent of biodegradation was ∼95% in aqueous and ∼65% in soil slurry during 15 d in aerobic studies and, ∼80% in aqueous and ∼60% in soil slurry during 60 d in anaerobic studies. The pathways of aerobic and anaerobic degradation of ES were modeled using combination of Monod no growth model and first order kinetics. The rate of biodegradation of β-isomer was faster compared to α-isomer. Conversion of ES to endosulfan sulfate (ESS) and endosulfan diol (ESD) were the rate limiting steps in aerobic medium and, the hydrolysis of ES to ESD was the rate limiting step in anaerobic medium. The mass balance indicated further degradation of endosulfan ether (ESE) and endosulfan lactone (ESL), but no end-products were identified. In the soil slurries, the rates of degradation of sorbed contaminants were slower. As a result, net rate of degradation reduced, increasing the persistence of the compounds. The soil phase degradation rate of β-isomer was slowed down more compared with α-isomer, which was attributed to its higher partition coefficient on the soil.     

Biodegradation of lindane, methyl parathion and carbofuran by various enriched bacterial isolates

In the present study, lindane (1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane), methyl parathion (O-dimethylO-(4-nitro-phenyl) phosphorothioate) and carbofuran (2,3-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-7-benzofuranyl methylcarbamate) degradation potential of different enriched bacterial cultures were evaluated under various environmental conditions. Enriched cultures behaved differently with different pesticides. Degradation was more in a facultative anaerobic condition as compared to that in aerobic condition. A specific pesticide enriched culture showed maximum degradation of that pesticide irrespective of pesticides and environmental conditions. Lindane and endosulfan enriched cultures behaved almost similarly. Degradation of lindane by lindane enriched cultures was 75 +/- 3% in aerobic co-metabolic process whereas 78 +/- 5% of lindane degradation occurred in anaerobic co-metabolic process. Degradation of methyl parathion by methyl parathion enriched culture was 87 +/- 1% in facultative anaerobic condition. In almost all the cases, many intermediate metabolites were observed. However, many of these metabolites disappeared after 4-6 weeks of incubation. Mixed pesticide-enriched culture degraded all the three pesticides more effectively as compared to specific pesticide- enriched cultures. It can be inferred from the results that a bacterial consortium enriched with a mixture of all the possible pesticides that are present in the site seems to be a better option for the effective bioremediation of multi-pesticide contaminated site.     

An anaerobic bioreactor allows the efficient degradation of HCH isomers in soil slurry

The insecticide gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane (gamma-HCH or lindane), which has been extensively used for agricultural and medical purposes, presents high persistence and toxicity to the environment and low solubility. This study intends to assess the efficiency of an anaerobic reactor to degrade HCH isomers contained in soil slurry cultures. This study was developed in two phases: experiments in flasks to optimize the process parameters, and assessment of the slurry process in the anaerobic slurry reactor operated for an approximate period of a year. The influence of different environmental conditions was evaluated: the HCH concentration (25-100 mg HCH kg-1), the type of substrate (volatile fatty acids or starch), the sludge concentration (2-8 g VSS l-1) and the replacement of spiked soil to simulate a fed-batch operation (10-50%). The best results were obtained when the reactor was operated with a sludge concentration of 8 g VSS l-1, starch concentration of 2 g COD l-1 and soil replacements of 10-20%. Under these conditions, alpha- and gamma-HCH were completely degraded after 10d while nearly 90% beta- and delta-HCH were removed only after 50 d. According to the obtained results related to the total degradation of the HCH isomers and the degradation rates, especially high for alpha- and gamma-HCH, the anaerobic slurry reactor appears to be a good alternative for the degradation of the HCH isomers present in polluted soil.     

Rate of microbial degradation of high concentrations of α-hexachlorocyclohexane in soil under aerobic and anaerobic conditions

A case study was carried out to determine the bio-degradability of α-HCH in waste dumps polluted with HCH-isomers. Polluted soil was homogenized through a 2 mm sieve. The degradation of α-HCH (5300 mg kg^?1) occurred under anaerobic as well as under aerobic conditions; the concentration decreased in 20 weeks with 35% and 55% respectively. Addition of glucose, glutamic acid and peptone to the polluted soil hardly affected the degradation rate of α-HCH.     

Impact of redox conditions on metolachlor and metribuzin degradation in mississippi flood plain soils

Abstract

The effect of soil redox conditions on the degradation of metolachlor and metribuzin in two Mississippi soils (Forrestdale silty clay loam and Loring silt loam) were examined in the laboratory. Herbicides were added to soil in microcosms and incubated either under oxidized (aerobic) or reduced (anaerobic) conditions. Metolachlor and metribuzin degradation under aerobic condition in the Forrestdale soil proceeded at rates of 8.83 ngd^‐1 and 25 ngd^‐1, respectively. Anaerobic degradation rates for the two herbicides in the Forestdale soil were 8.44 ngd^‐1 and 32.5 ngd^‐1, respectively. Degradation rates for the Loring soil under aerobic condition were 24.8 ngd^‐1 and 12.0 ngd^‐1 for metolachlor and metribuzin, respectively. Metolachlor and metribuzin degradation rates under anaerobic conditions in the Loring soil were 20.9 ngd^‐1 and 5.35 ngd^‐1. Metribuzin degraded faster (12.0 ngd^‐1) in the Loring soil under aerobic conditions as compared to anaerobic conditions (5.35 ngd^‐1).     

Biodegradation of malathion, α- and β-endosulfan by bacterial strains isolated from agricultural soil in Veracruz,Mexico

The objective of this study was to evaluate the capacity of two bacterial strains isolated, cultivated, and purified from agricultural soils of Veracruz, Mexico, for biodegradation and mineralisation of malathion (diethyl 2-(dimethoxyphosphorothioyl) succinate) and α- and β-endosulfan (6,7,8,9,10,10-hexachloro-1,5,5a,6,9,9a-hexahydro-6-9-methano-2,4,3-benzodioxathiepine-3-oxide). The isolated bacterial strains were identified using biochemical and morphological characterization and the analysis of their 16S rDNA gene, as Enterobacter cloacae strain PMM16 (E1) and E. amnigenus strain XGL214 (M1). The E1 strain was able to degrade endosulfan, whereas the M1 strain was capable of degrading both pesticides. The E1 strain degraded 71.32% of α-endosulfan and 100% of β-endosulfan within 24 days. The absence of metabolites, such as endosulfan sulfate, endosulfan lactone, or endosulfan diol, would suggest degradation of endosulfan isomers through non-oxidative pathways. Malathion was completely eliminated by the M1 strain. The major metabolite was butanedioic acid. There was a time-dependent increase in bacterial biomass, typical of bacterial growth, correlated with the decrease in pesticide concentration. The CO₂ production also increased significantly with the addition of pesticides to the bacterial growth media, demonstrating that, under aerobic conditions, the bacteria utilized endosulfan and malathion as a carbon source. Here, two bacterial strains are shown to metabolize two toxic pesticides into non-toxic intermediates.     

Application of dynamic models to estimate greenhouse gas emission by wastewater treatment plants of the pulp and paper industry

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emission in wastewater treatment plants of the pulp-and-paper industry was estimated by using a dynamic mathematical model. Significant variations were shown in the magnitude of GHG generation in response to variations in operating parameters, demonstrating the limited capacity of steady-state models in predicting the time-dependent emissions of these harmful gases. The examined treatment systems used aerobic, anaerobic, and hybrid—anaerobic/aerobic—biological processes along with chemical coagulation/flocculation, anaerobic digester, nitrification and denitrification processes, and biogas recovery. The pertinent operating parameters included the influent substrate concentration, influent flow rate, and temperature. Although the average predictions by the dynamic model were only 10 % different from those of steady-state model during 140 days of operation of the examined systems, the daily variations of GHG emissions were different up to ±30, ±19, and ±17 % in the aerobic, anaerobic, and hybrid systems, respectively. The variations of process variables caused fluctuations in energy generation from biogas recovery by ±16, ±17, and ±14 % in the three examined systems, respectively. The lowest variations were observed in the hybrid system, showing the stability of this particular process design.     

Kinetic studies of endosulfan photochemical degradations by ultraviolet light irradiation in aqueous medium

Kinetic studies of endosulfan photochemical degradation in controlled aqueous systems were carried out by ultraviolet light irradiation at λ = 254 nm. The photolysis of (α + β: 2 + 1) endosulfan, α-endosulfan and β-endosulfan were first-order kinetics. The observed rate constants obtained from linear least-squares analysis of the data were 1 × 10^?4 s^?1; 1 × 10^?4 s^?1; and 2 × 10^?5 s^?1, respectively, and the calculated quantum yields (φ) were 1, 1 and 1.6, respectively. Preliminary differential pulse polarographic (DPP) analysis allowed to observe the possible endosulfan photochemical degradation pathway. This degradation route involves the formation of the endosulfan diol, its transformation to endosulfan ether and finally the ether's complete degradation by observing the potential shifts.     

酸性媒介黄GG生物降解性能的试验研究

通过试验研究酸性媒介黄GG染料在厌氧、好氧条件下的生物降解机理、降解能力及共代谢降解效果。试验结果表明，厌氧菌能够通过葡萄糖共代谢作用很快降解酸性媒介黄GG；而好氧条件下经驯化活性污泥不能降解酸性媒介黄GG，经过较长时间驯化活性污泥能降解酸性媒介黄GG，但降解效果很差。葡萄糖浓度的升高对提高酸性媒介黄GG厌氧生物降解率有利，当葡萄糖浓度为2000mg／L时，40mg／L酸性媒介黄GC的12和60h厌氧生物降解率分别达到81．5％和93．5％。酸性媒介黄GG浓度对厌氧菌的生物降解能力也有影响。当葡萄糖浓度为2000mg／L，酸性媒介黄GG（浓度为20～100mg／L）的厌氧降解率最好，降解效率达到了94％，说明厌氧菌对酸性媒介黄GG的降解能力较好。     

生物强化处理石油污染土壤理化性质和微生物学特性的纵向分布特征

采用原位强化生物修复技术对某区块石油污染土壤进行为期16个月的生物修复,考察了处置后污染土壤理化性质、微生物学特性以及石油烃组成的纵向分布特征。实验结果表明,经过修复后各土层的石油烃去除率是表层土IN-3(50.42%)中层土IN-2(23.54%)底层土IN-1(10.51%);IN-1处于缺氧环境,存在硫酸盐还原和反硝化作用,使得土壤pH值从7.86±0.03降低至7.27±0.03,土壤总氮从2.53±0.13 g/kg降低至0.77±0.04 g/kg;厌氧菌的种群数量是IN-1(10.43±0.71×104CFU/g)IN-3(6.74±0.39×104CFU/g)IN-2(5.15±0.42×104CFU/g),放线菌数量与石油烃含量显著负相关(r=-0.989,p=0.0110.05);IN-3对饱和份和芳香份的降解率最高,分别达到了70.27%和54.52%,远高于IN-2和IN-1;模拟蒸馏结果表明,IN-3正构烷烃得到了很大程度的去除,缺氧的IN-1对正构烷烃去除得较少;厌氧菌数量与胶质和沥青质去除率之间成正相关关系,对于污染源较为分散的污染区域,采用原位生物强化修复时可以考虑引入厌氧修复。     

厌氧-好氧接触氧化处理汽车脱脂废水研究

采用厌氧UASB-好氧接触氧化工艺对汽车脱脂废水进行连续处理实验研究。结果表明,在脱脂废水进水COD浓度为6 000 mg/L,厌氧水力停留时间为3.4 d,好氧水力停留时间为2.5 d条件下,COD总去除率平均为93%,厌氧段平均值为38%。厌氧段可以提高出水的可生化性,厌氧-好氧接触氧化工艺效果要明显优于好氧工艺。     

Degradation of aldrin and endosulfan in rotary drum and windrow composting

Removal efficiencies, kinetics and degradation pathways of aldrin, endosulfan α and endosulfan β in vegetable waste were evaluated during rotary drum and conventional windrow composting. The highest percentage removal of aldrin, endosulfan α and endosulfan β in rotary drum composting was 86.8, 83.3 and 85.3% respectively, whereas in windrow composting, it was 66.6%, 77.7% and 67.2% respectively. The rate constant of degradation of aldrin, endosulfan α and endosulfan β during rotary drum composting ranged from 0.410–0.778, 0.057–0.076 and 0.009–0.061 day^?1 respectively. The pathways of degradation of these pesticides in composting process were proposed. Metabolites dieldrin and 1 hydroxychlorodene formed during composting of aldrin in the vegetable waste indicated the occurrence of epoxidation reaction and oxidation of bridge carbon of aldrin containing the methylene group. Formation of chloroendic acid and chloroendic anhydride during composting of endosulfan containing vegetable waste support the occurrence of endosulfan sulfate and dehydration reaction respectively.     

Biological treatment of dye wastewaters using an anaerobic-oxic system

Three dye solutions, namely, C.I. Acid Yellow 17, C.I. Basic Blue 3, and C.I. Basic Red 2, were treated in an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor followed by a semi-continuous aerobic activated sludge tank. When hydraulic retention time was about 12 hours, no significant color removal was observed in the aerobic stage. In the anaerobic stage, Acid Yellow 17, Basic Blue 3, and Basic Red 2 were removed by 20%, 72%, and 78%, respectively. To treat wastewater from a dye manufacturing factory with COD concentration of 1200 mg/l and Color of 500 degree (dilution factor), an UASB reactor (4.5 liters) and an activated sludge tank (5 liters, adjustable), COD and color were removed by more than 83% and 90% at a COD loading rate of 5.3 kg COD/m³-day in the anaerobic stage, and at the hydraulic retention time of 6-10 hours for the anaerobic stage and 6.5 for the aerobic stage. The anaerobic stage of the A/O system removes both color and COD. In addition, it also improves biodegradability of dyes for further aerobic treatment.     

Biodegradation of endosulfan by Mortieralla sp. strain W8 in soil: Influence of different substrates on biodegradation

To examine the bioremediation potential of Mortierella sp. strain W8 in endosulfan contaminated soil, the fungus was inoculated into sterilized and unsterilized soil spiked with endosulfan. Wheat bran and cane molasses were used as substrates to understand the influence of different organic materials on the degradation of endosulfan in soil. Strain W8 degraded α- and β-endosulfan in both sterilized and unsterilized soil. In unsterilized soil with wheat bran+W8, α- and β- endosulfan were degraded by approximately 80% and 50%, respectively after 28 d incubation against the initial endosulfan concentration (3 mg kg(-1) dw). The corresponding values for α- and β-endosulfan degradation with wheat bran only were 50% and 3%. Endosulfan diol metabolite was detected after 14 d incubation in wheat bran+W8 whereas it was not found with wheat bran only. Production of endosulfan sulfate, the main metabolite of endosulfan, was suppressed with wheat bran+W8 treatment compared with wheat bran only. It was demonstrated that wheat bran is a more suitable substrate for strain W8 than cane molasses. Wheat bran+W8 is a superior fungus and substrate mix for bioremediation in soil contaminated with endosulfan.     

Metolachlor persistence in laboratory and field soils under Indian tropical conditions

Abstract

Metolachlor [2‐chloro‐N‐(2‐methoxy‐1‐methylethyl)‐2'‐ethyl‐6'‐methyl acetanilide] dissipation under both field and laboratory conditions were studied during summer season in an Indian soil. Metolachlor was found to have moderate persistence with a half‐life of 27 days in field. The herbicide got leached down to 15–30 cm soil layer and residues were found up to harvest day of the sunflower crop in both 0–15 cm and 15–30 cm soil layers. Metolachlor was found to be more persistent in laboratory studies conducted for 190 days. The rate of degradation was faster in soil under flooded partial anaerobic conditions as compared to aerobic soil with a half‐life of 44.3 days. In aerobic soil, metolachlor was very stable with only 49% dissipation in 130 days. Residues remained in both the soils up to the end of the experimental period of 190 days.     

Alginate immobilized enrichment culture for atrazine degradation in soil and water system

An atrazine degrading enrichment culture, a consortium of bacteria of genus Bacillus along with Pseudomonas and Burkholderia, was immobilized in sodium alginate and was used to study atrazine degradation in mineral salts medium (MSM), soil and wastewater effluent. Sodium alginate immobilized consortium, when stored at room temperature (24 ± 5°C), was effective in degrading atrazine in MSM up to 90 days of storage. The survival of bacteria in alginate beads, based on colony formation unit (CFU) counts, suggested survival up to 90 days and population counts decreased to 1/5^th on 120 days. Comparison of atrazine degrading ability of the freely suspended enrichment culture and immobilized culture suggested that the immobilized culture took longer time for complete degradation of atrazine as a lag phase of 2 days was observed in the MSM inoculated with alginate immobilized culture. The free cells resulted in complete degradation of atrazine within 6 days, while immobilized cells took 10 days for 100% atrazine degradation. Further, immobilized cultures were able to degrade atrazine in soil and wastewater effluent. Alginate beads were stable and effective in degrading atrazine till 3rd transfer and disintegrated thereafter. The study suggested that immobilized enrichment culture, due to its better storage and application, can be used to degrade atrazine in soil water system.