title: Design of an optimized biomixture for the degradation of carbofuran based on pesticide removal and toxicity reduction of the matrix.
abstract: Pesticide biopurification systems contain a biologically active matrix (biomixture) responsible for the accelerated elimination of pesticides in wastewaters derived from pest control in crop fields. Biomixtures have been typically prepared using the volumetric composition 50:25:25 (lignocellulosic substrate/humic component/soil); nonetheless, formal composition optimization has not been performed so far. Carbofuran is an insecticide/nematicide of high toxicity widely employed in developing countries. Therefore, the composition of a highly efficient biomixture (composed of coconut fiber, compost, and soil, FCS) for the removal of carbofuran was optimized by means of a central composite design and response surface methodology. The volumetric content of soil and the ratio coconut fiber/compost were used as the design variables. The performance of the biomixture was assayed by considering the elimination of carbofuran, the mineralization of (14)C-carbofuran, and the residual toxicity of the matrix, as response variables. Based on the models, the optimal volumetric composition of the FCS biomixture consists of 45:13:42 (coconut fiber/compost/soil), which resulted in minimal residual toxicity and ∼99% carbofuran elimination after 3 days. This optimized biomixture considerably differs from the standard 50:25:25 composition, which remarks the importance of assessing the performance of newly developed biomixtures during the design of biopurification systems.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación en Contaminación Ambiental (CICA), Universidad de Costa Rica, 2060, San José, Costa Rica.
authors.forename: Juan Salvador
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Chin-Pampillo
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación en Contaminación Ambiental (CICA), Universidad de Costa Rica, 2060, San José, Costa Rica.
authors.forename: Karla
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Hidalgo
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación en Contaminación Ambiental (CICA), Universidad de Costa Rica, 2060, San José, Costa Rica.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Masís-Mora
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación en Contaminación Ambiental (CICA), Universidad de Costa Rica, 2060, San José, Costa Rica.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carazo-Rojas
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación en Contaminación Ambiental (CICA), Universidad de Costa Rica, 2060, San José, Costa Rica. carlos.rodriguezrodriguez@ucr.ac.cr.
authors.forename: Carlos E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Rodríguez
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002235:Carbofuran / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003059:Cocos / Q000737:chemistry; D008956:Models, Chemical; D010575:Pesticides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D002235:Carbofuran; D010575:Pesticides; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D062065:Wastewater
keywords: Biopurification system; Coconut fiber; Degradation; Optimization; Pesticides