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43The phenylurea herbicide diuron [N-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-N,N-dimethylurea] is widely 44 used in a broad range of herbicide formulations, and consequently, it is frequently 45 detected as a major soil and water contaminant in areas where there is extensive use. 46Diuron has the unfortunate combination of being strongly adsorbed by soil organic 47 matter particles, and hence, slowly degraded in the environment due to its reduced 48 bioavailability. N-phenylurea herbicides seem to be biodegraded in soil, but it must be 49 kept in mind that this biotic or abiotic degradation could lead to accumulation of very 50 toxic derived compounds, such as 3,4-dichloroaniline. 51A research was conducted to find procedures that might result in an increase in the 52 bioavailability of diuron in contaminated soils, through solubility enhancement. For our 53 purpose we used a double system composed of hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPCD), 54 which is capable of forming inclusion compounds in solution, and a two-members 55 bacterial consortium formed by the diuron-degrading Arthrobacter sulfonivorans 56 (Arthrobacter sp. N2) and the linuron-degrading Variovorax soli (Variovorax sp. 57 SRS16), which will be able to achieve a complete biodegradation of diuron to CO 2 . The 58 cyclodextrin-based bioremediation technology here described shows for the first time an 59 almost complete mineralisation of diuron in a soil system, as opposite to previous 60 incomplete mineralization based on single or consortium bacterial degradation. 61 62

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