Enhancement of the bacterial degradation of phenoxyalkanoate herbicides by the use of modified polyurethane foam as a support

✍ Scribed by Christel Hinteregger; Michael Loidl; Johannes Stockinger; Prof. Franz Streichsbier

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1995
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 792 KB
• Volume: 35
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0233-111X
• DOI: 10.1002/jobm.3620350606

✦ Synopsis

The enhancement of the degradative behaviour of Flavobacterium sp. MH concerning the phenoxyalkanoate herbicides 2,4-D, 2,4-DP, 2,4-DB, MCPA, MCPP, and MCPB, respectively, was achieved by the use of an inert polyurethane (PU)-foam. In comparative batch-degradation experiments with and without the addition of the PU-carrier (1.25% w/v), respectively, the advantages of the PU-supply were demonstrated. When 2,4-D, 2,4-DP, and MCPP, respectively, was used as a growth substrate by strain MH the PU-supply led to a reduced lag-phase. In the case of the stronger toxic phenoxyalkanoates 2,4-DB and MCPB, respectively, the inital substrate concentration (0.1 gll) was significantly reduced to a minor toxic concentration due to a distinct adsorption to the PU-carrier, thus enabling the biodegradation. Finally, the total initially supplied amount of the phenoxyalkanoates was detoxified as verified by the chloride balance.

After several steps of subcultivation, even a five-fold increased MCPB concentration (0.5 g/l) could be detoxified by strain MH in a PU-supplied bubble reactor within several days.