Biological Degradation of Simazine by Mixed‐Microbial Cultures Immobilized on Sepiolite and Tepojal Beads

Abstract

Simazine degradation by mixed microbial cultures was carried out in biological reactors with tepojal and sepiolite beads. The inoculum used is derived from a biotechnological product applied to plant roots, which contains mixed microbial cultures. This inoculum presented a stable adherence to the microorganism support throughout the experiment. In this research, the supports were evaluated in relation to both biofilm formation and simazine removal. For this study, hydraulic and mass starting-up parameters were established for simazine degradation and for the use of these reactors in the two types of supports. Tepojal had never been used before as a microbial support in any previous research paper. Tepojal demonstrated to be more efficient than sepiolite. Statistical analysis was done for the relationship among the parameters of chemical oxygen demand, colony formation units, total suspended solids, and volatile suspended solids. Water Environ. Res., 83, 274 (2011).

Application of a simazine degrading bacterium, Arthrobacter ureafaciens XMJ‐Z01 for bioremediation of simazine pollution

“…Though not always feasible, simazine can be completely degraded by microorganism under aerobic conditions. There have been some reports on the biodegradation of simazine by strains of bacteria (Iwasaki et al , 2007; Marcela et al , 2010), fungi (Kodama et al , 2001) or mixed microbial communities (Grigg et al , 1997; Castro‐González et al , 2011). The microbial degradation is usually considered the most important way of simazine degradation, and the use of microorganisms for bioremediation of simazine‐contaminated sites has received increasing attention as an efficient biotechnological approach (Satsuma, 2010; Morgante et al , 2012).…”

Visible Light-Induced Photodegradation of Simazine in Aqueous TiO2 Suspension

“…Therefore, great efforts including photosensitization by dye, transition metal, and nonmetal doping have been dedicated to improving the utility of TiO 2 by shifting its optical response from the UV to the visible spectral range. − However, the process in preparing these photocatalysts is time-consuming and expensive, which may hamper the use of these technologies in practical applications. Therefore, H 2 O 2 -assisted and TiO 2 -based photocatalysis has been proposed to work with the irradiation of visible light, , while some studies have investigated the degradation of SMZ by ozonation, , photocatalysis, Fenton’s oxidation, , UV photolysis, and biological methods. , Until now, the information regarding the photocatalytic decay of SMZ under visible light, however, is still limited.…”

“…Therefore, H 2 O 2 -assisted and TiO 2 -based photocatalysis has been proposed to work with the irradiation of visible light, 14,15 while some studies have investigated the degradation of SMZ by ozonation, 16,17 photocatalysis, 18 Fenton's oxidation, 9,17 UV photolysis, 19 and biological methods. 20,21 Until now, the information regarding the photocatalytic decay of SMZ under visible light, however, is still limited.…”