title: Using volatile organic compounds to enhance atrazine biodegradation in a biobed system.
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.
authors: Chemical Engineering Department, Universidad de La Frontera, PO Box 54-D, Temuco, Chile. gtortell@ufro.cl
authors: G R
authors: GR
authors: Tortella
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Rubilar
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Stenström
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Cea
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Briceño
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Quiroz
authors: M C
authors: MC
authors: Diez
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Parra
mesh_terms: D001280:Atrazine / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005452:Fluoresceins / Q000378:metabolism; D006207:Half-Life; D006868:Hydrolysis; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D013729:Terpenes; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*; D014835:Volatilization
chemical_list: D005452:Fluoresceins; D013729:Terpenes; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase; D001280:Atrazine; C018506:diacetylfluorescein