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

Biodegradation volume 24, pages 711–720 (2013)Cite this article

Abstract

The effect of the terpenes α-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 μg 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 μg 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.

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Acknowledgments

This study was financed by Dirección de Investigación de la Universidad de La Frontera PIA-Project DI10-7004 and partially financed by Fondecyt Project 11100236 and Fondecyt 3110085.

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Affiliations

  1. Chemical Engineering Department, Universidad de La Frontera, PO Box 54-D, Temuco, Chile

    G. R. Tortella, O. Rubilar, M. Cea, G. Briceño & M. C. Diez

  2. Scientific & Technological Bioresource Nucleus, University of La Frontera, PO Box 54-D, Temuco, Chile

    G. R. Tortella, O. Rubilar, M. Cea, G. Briceño, A. Quiroz, M. C. Diez & L. Parra

  3. Department of Microbiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 7025, 750-07, Uppsala, Sweden

    J. Stenström

  4. Chemical Science and Natural Resource Department, Universidad de La Frontera, PO Box 54-D, Temuco, Chile

    A. Quiroz & L. Parra

Authors
  1. G. R. Tortella
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  2. O. Rubilar
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  3. J. Stenström
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  4. M. Cea
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  5. G. Briceño
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  6. A. Quiroz
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  7. M. C. Diez
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  8. L. Parra
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Correspondence to G. R. Tortella.

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Tortella, G.R., Rubilar, O., Stenström, J. et al. Using volatile organic compounds to enhance atrazine biodegradation in a biobed system. Biodegradation 24, 711–720 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10532-013-9619-4

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

Keywords

  • Biobeds
  • Atrazine
  • Biomixture
  • Biodegradation
  • Terpenes