title: Exploring the potential of biobeds for the depuration of pesticide-contaminated wastewaters from the citrus production chain: laboratory, column and field studies.
abstract: The high wastewater volumes produced during citrus production at pre- and post-harvest level presents serious pesticide point-source pollution for groundwater bodies. Biobeds are used for preventing such point-source pollution occurring at farm level. We explored the potential of biobeds for the depuration of wastewaters produced through the citrus production chain following a lab-to-field experimentation. The dissipation of pesticides used pre- or post-harvest was studied in compost-based biomixtures, soil, and a straw-soil mixture. A biomixture of composted grape seeds and skins (GSS-1) showed the highest dissipation capacity. In subsequent column studies, GSS-1 restricted pesticides leaching even at the highest water load (462 Lm(-3)). Ortho-phenylphenol was the most mobile compound. Studies in an on-farm biobed filled with GSS-1 showed that pesticides were fully retained and partially or fully dissipated. Overall biobeds could be a valuable solution for the depuration of wastewaters produced at pre- and post-harvest level by citrus fruit industries.
authors.affiliation: Agricultural Research Institute, Nicosia, Cyprus. michalis.omirou@arinet.ari.gov.cy
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Omirou
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dalias
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Papastefanou
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dados
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ehaliotis
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Karpouzas
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002957:Citrus; D060587:Groundwater / Q000737:chemistry; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000032:analysis; D010575:Pesticides / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D007220:Industrial Waste; D010575:Pesticides; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical