Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Bioremediation of Endosulfan Contaminated Soil and Water-Optimization of Operating Conditions in Laboratory Scale Reactors PDF
Bioremediation of Endosulfan Contaminated Soil and Water-Optimization of Operating Conditions in Laboratory Scale Reactors PDF
Abstract
A mixed bacterial culture consisted of Staphylococcus sp., Bacillus circulans-I and -II has been enriched from contaminated soil collected from
the vicinity of an endosulfan processing industry. The degradation of endosulfan by mixed bacterial culture was studied in aerobic and facultative
anaerobic conditions via batch experiments with an initial endosulfan concentration of 50 mg/L. After 3 weeks of incubation, mixed bacterial culture
was able to degrade 71.58 0.2% and 75.88 0.2% of endosulfan in aerobic and facultative anaerobic conditions, respectively. The addition of
external carbon (dextrose) increased the endosulfan degradation in both the conditions. The optimal dextrose concentration and inoculum size
was estimated as 1 g/L and 75 mg/L, respectively. The pH of the system has significant effect on endosulfan degradation. The degradation of
alpha endosulfan was more compared to beta endosulfan in all the experiments. Endosulfan biodegradation in soil was evaluated by miniature
and bench scale soil reactors. The soils used for the biodegradation experiments were identified as clayey soil (CL, lean clay with sand), red soil
(GM, silty gravel with sand), sandy soil (SM, silty sand with gravel) and composted soil (PT, peat) as per ASTM (American society for testing and
materials) standards. Endosulfan degradation efficiency in miniature soil reactors were in the order of sandy soil followed by red soil, composted
soil and clayey soil in both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. In bench scale soil reactors, endosulfan degradation was observed more in the bottom
layers. After 4 weeks, maximum endosulfan degradation efficiency of 95.48 0.17% was observed in red soil reactor where as in composted soil-I
(moisture 38 1%) and composted soil-II (moisture 45 1%) it was 96.03 0.23% and 94.84 0.19%, respectively. The high moisture content
in compost soil reactor-II increased the endosulfan concentration in the leachate. Known intermediate metabolites of endosulfan were absent in all
the above degradation studies.
2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
0304-3894/$ see front matter 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2005.12.023
M. kumar, L. Philip / Journal of Hazardous Materials B136 (2006) 354364 355
isolates in aqueous and soil environments is different. Properties (CL, lean clay with sand), red soil (GM, silty gravel with
of pollutants and the characteristics of the soil like clay content, sand), composted soil (PT, peat) and sandy soil (SM, silty
organic matter content and soil texture have influence on the sand with gravel) [19]. The soils were sieved through IS
degradation process [18]. sieve No. 10 (2 mm aperture as per IS 2720 (Part 4), 1987).
In order to develop a suitable field soil bioremediation system, The fraction passing through the sieve was collected and
it is essential to have the information regarding the adsorption, preserved in air tight plastic containers for biodegradation
desorption characteristics of the concerned pollutant in soil, opti- studies.
mum operating conditions of the bio-system, i.e. pH, effect of
co-metabolism, population size of specific microorganism and 3. Analytical techniques
the performance evaluation through detailed laboratory stud-
ies. No detailed study has been conducted to evaluate these Endosulfan, its isomers and degradation products, i.e. endo-
parameters for endosulfan degradation using mixed bacterial sulfan sulfate, endosulfan ether and endosulfan lactone were
consortium. Also, the impact of soil properties and the effect analyzed by Perkin-Elmer Clarus 500 gas chromatograph with
of exogenous cells on soil applied endosulfan degradation have electron capture detection (GC/ECD). Under these conditions
not been quantified in detail. the retention time for alpha endosulfan, beta endosulfan, endo-
In the present study, endosulfan-degradation potential of a sulfan sulfate, endosulfan ether and endosulfan lactone was
mixed bacterial culture in soil was examined via bench scale 6.31, 9.36, 11.95, 3.72 and 6.42 min, respectively, and the chro-
soil reactors. The optimization of operating parameters for the matogram is shown in Fig. 2(a) [19].
degradation of endosulfan by a mixed bacterial consortium was Bacterial cells in the systems were measured using a UV
also carried out in laboratory scale reactors. digital spectrometer (Techcomp, Hong Kong) in fixed-point
measurement at 550 nm [20].
2. Materials and methods
4. Experimental procedure
2.1. Chemicals
4.1. Inoculum
High purity (99.4%) endosulfan, endosulfan sulfate, endo-
sulfan ether and endosulfan lactone was purchased from A mixed bacterial culture, previously isolated by selective
SigmaAldrich Ltd., USA, and technical grade endosulfan of enrichment on endosulfan [20] was used. It consists of three
96% purity was purchased from EID Parry India Ltd., Chennai, strains, i.e. Staphylococcus sp., Bacillus circulans-I and -II that
India. Other chemical reagents and solvents used were of HPLC have been deposited in the Gene Bank (MTCC) at Chandigarh,
grade purchased from Ranbaxy Ltd., Chennai, India. The stock India as MTCC 6801, MTCC 6802 and MTCC 6803, respec-
endosulfan solution of 1% was prepared in methanol and used tively. The cultures were grown in nutrient broth (NB) [20],
for all the experiments. All the glassware used was supplied by centrifuged, washed, suspended in fresh NB, and were used as
Borosil, India, and before every experiment, all glassware were inoculum for all the biodegradation studies.
cleaned with distilled water and dried at 110 C for 5 h.
4.2. Effect of supplementary carbon source on endosulfan
2.2. Soils for endosulfan degradation studies degradation in aqueous system
Most common Indian soils were selected for the biodegra- Technical endosulfan (from 1% stock solution prepared in
dation experiments and they were classified as clayey soil methanol) was amended in conical flasks containing 200 mL of
356 M. kumar, L. Philip / Journal of Hazardous Materials B136 (2006) 354364
Fig. 2. (a) Chromatogram of endosulfan and its metabolites at standard operating condition. (b) Chromatogram of reactor effluent extracts during biodegradation at
5, 7, 14 and 21 days at standard operating condition.
NB to receive a final endosulfan concentration of 50 ppm. Dex- 4.4. Effect of pH on endosulfan degradation in aqueous
trose was supplied as a supplementary carbon at concentrations system
of 1, 2, 3 and 4 g/L and the pH of the medium was maintained
at 7. Predetermined concentration of bacterial cells corresponds NB was prepared as above with an endosulfan concentration
to OD550 0.15 (75 mg/L) were inoculated and the flasks were of 50 ppm in identical conical flasks. The pH of the medium was
kept in an orbital shaker at 28 2 C at 150 rpm. The studies adjusted to 4, 6, 7, 8, and 10 with the addition of hydrochloric
were conducted in both aerobic and facultative anaerobic con- acid (HCl)/sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solutions. After adjusting
ditions for 21 days. Nitrogen gas was purged into anaerobic the pH, predetermined concentration of bacterial cells (75 mg/L
flasks and immediately sealed with air tight septum to main- at OD550 0.15) was inoculated. The inoculated flasks were kept
tain the anaerobic condition. At various time intervals (0, 2, 5, in an orbital shaker at 28 2 C and 150 rpm for 21 days. Blank
7, 10, 14 and 21 days) samples were withdrawn from the con- control reactors were operated simultaneously for all the pH.
ical flasks and analyzed for residual endosulfan concentration The samples were collected from the controlled flasks at 0, 2, 5,
using GC/ECD. After collecting the samples from anaerobic 7, 10, 14 and 21 days and analyzed for endosulfan concentration
flasks, nitrogen gas was purged again and sealed with air tight using GC/ECD. A blank reactor with distilled water alone was
septum. also operated to see the effect of hydrolysis at higher pH (pH 10).
4.3. Effect of inoculum size on endosulfan degradation in 4.5. Endosulfan degradation studies in soil
aqueous system
4.5.1. Miniature soil reactor studies
Different microbial cell concentrations corresponds to 50, To evaluate the optimum conditions for bioremediation,
75, 100, and 150 mg/L were inoculated to eight identical coni- miniature reactors were employed. Soil employed for all the
cal flasks containing 100 mL of NB, previously amended with biotransformation studies were sterilized in a hot air oven
endosulfan concentration of 50 ppm. The pH of the medium was at 150 C for 2 h. The miniature soil reactors were of 50 mL
adjusted to 7 and no supplementary carbon was added through- capacity conical flasks in which the soil samples, i.e. red soil,
out. The flasks were kept in an orbital shaker at 28 2 C and sandy soil, clay soil and composted soil of 25 g (oven dried and
150 rpm. Experiments were conducted in both aerobic and anaer- amended with endosulfan to reach a final endosulfan concen-
obic conditions. Five millilitres of sample was collected from the tration of 2 mg/g of soil) were placed. Endosulfan amended soil
flasks at 2, 4, 7, 10, 14 and 21 days and analyzed for endosulfan samples were inoculated with 75 mg/g of bacterial cells mixed
concentration. with NB and added into the reactor. The reactors were operated
M. kumar, L. Philip / Journal of Hazardous Materials B136 (2006) 354364 357
Table 1
Degradation of alpha and beta endosulfan in the presence and absence of dextrose
at the end of 21 days
Dextrose Degradation at the end of 21 days (%)
addition (g/L)
Aerobic system Anaerobic system
Table 2
Growth of mixed and pure bacterial cultures during degradation of endosulfan in the presence and absence of dextrose
Time (days) Growth of mixed culture Growth of mixed culture with Growth of pure culture in aerobic
without dextrose (mg/L)a dextrose (mg/L)a condition with dextrose (mg/L)b
Aerobic Anaerobic Aerobic Anaerobic Aerobic Anaerobic Aerobic
0 75 4 75 3 75 4 75 6 75 4 75 3 75 5
2 120 4 90 5 140 8 110 5 100 5 120 7 115 8
5 210 3 155 7 245 5 180 6 175 5 195 4 190 8
7 255 6 210 7 280 5 220 8 210 4 240 9 240 11
10 295 10 245 7 315 6 260 8 245 6 265 7 270 8
14 320 8 275 10 335 9 295 10 270 6 275 7 280 9
18 345 8 300 5 360 9 320 7
21 355 7 320 7 375 6 340 8
28 350 6 325 6 365 6 340 5
Fig. 7. (a) Degradation of endosulfan at various pH in aerobic system. (b) Variation of endosulfan metabolites in blank reactor (distilled water) at pH 10. (c)
Degradation of endosulfan at various pH in facultative anaerobic system; (d) in aerobic and facultative anaerobic system at the end of 21 days.
The decrease in pH might have retarded the alkaline hydroly- and 26.57 1.1% (compared to the neutral pH), respectively.
sis. From the control studies (endosulfan amended directly in But, increase in pH to alkaline side, i.e. pH 8 and 10 enhanced
NB), it was observed that no intermediate metabolites of endo- the endosulfan degradation efficiency to 75.92 0.18% and
sulfan were detected in any of the system and the abiological 76.24 0.2%, respectively (Fig. 7(c)). Endosulfan degradation
loss of endosulfan in the controlled flasks was negligible. Later, efficiency of mixed culture at the end of 21 days at various
the control studies were repeated in distilled water (endosulfan pH was shown in Fig. 7(d). Conversely, the supplementary
amended in distilled water without NB) where endosulfan diol carbon source increased the endosulfan degradation efficiency
and endosulfan ether was observed due to alkaline hydrolysis in from 71.58 0.2% to 80.62 0.18% in aerobic condition and
both aerobic and facultative anaerobic conditions. Around 20% from 75.88 0.2% to 85.14 0.18% in anaerobic condition
of endosulfan was hydrolyzed to endosulfan diol and endosulfan at pH 7. For all the pH ranges studied, percentage degradation
ether. This value was converted to parent compound equivalents of alpha endosulfan was less compared to beta endosulfan
and it was around 99%. This emphasize the fact that endosulafan in aerobic condition and vice-versa in anaerobic condition.
is not getting removed from the system by volatilization. The The growth of Staphylococcus sp. is more favorable in
accumulation of endosulfan diol and endosulfan ether, in blank facultative anaerobic condition compared to other Bacillus
reactors, operated in aerobic and facultative anaerobic systems cultures. In facultative anaerobic system endosulfan might
is shown in Fig. 7(b). be utilized mainly by Staphylococcus sp. where as in aero-
In facultative anaerobic process (at pH 4) endosulfan bic system majority of endosulfan was utilized by Bacillus
degradation efficiency was 38.64 0.28% and it was increased circulans-I and -II. From our earlier study, it was observed
to 55.72 0.21% at pH 6. The reduction in efficiency of the that Staphylococcus sp. utilized more beta endosulfan and
system due to decrease in pH to 4 and 6 was 47.76 1.3% other Bacillus strains utilized more of alpha endosulfan [20].
M. kumar, L. Philip / Journal of Hazardous Materials B136 (2006) 354364 361
These observations were in good agreement with the present condition with a bacterial concentration of 75 mg/g of soil. The
study. reactors were operated in aerobic and facultative anaerobic con-
ditions and the performance of the reactors was monitored for
5.4. Soil applied endosulfan degradation studies 28 days. Anaerobic soil reactors gave better results compared to
aerobic soil reactors. Among the soil reactors studied, maximum
Endosulfan degradation in soil is partially different from endosulfan degradation was observed in sandy soil reactors in
degradation in water. Soil adsorption, presence of organic matter, both aerobic and facultative anaerobic conditions. The endosul-
clay content, silt content and many other factors, which directly fan degradation efficiency of the sandy soil reactor in aerobic
influence the degradation of soil applied endosulfan. Though, condition was 31.5 0.23%, whereas, in anaerobic condition
the operating parameters of biodegradation experiments were it was 32.57 0.18%. Similar trends in the degradation pat-
optimized in aqueous systems it may not be same for the soil tern were observed in all other reactors. Endosulfan degradation
system. The miniature soil reactors were employed to check the efficiency in the soil reactors were in the following order. Sandy
degradation of endosulfan in different soils with the optimized soil followed by red soil (24.75 0.18% and 29.12 0.22%),
operating parameters obtained from the liquid phase studies. composted soil (22.81 0.18% and 27.19 0.15%) and clay
soil (19.17 0.32% and 19.63 0.24%) in aerobic and fac-
5.4.1. Miniature soil reactor studies ultative anaerobic conditions, respectively (Fig. 8(a) and (b)).
The optimum condition for bioremediation of endosulfan- The efficiency of endosulfan degradation was less in clay soil
contaminated soils was evaluated through miniature soil reac- (19.17 0.32% and 19.63 0.24% in aerobic and anaerobic
tors. Initially, endosulfan concentration in all soils was main- conditions, respectively). This may be due to the presence of
tained uniformly as 2 mg/g of soil and operated in saturated more clay and silt content in the soil. The miniature soil reactors
Fig. 8. (a) Kinetics of endosulfan degradation in miniature soil reactors in aerobic condition; (b) in facultative anaerobic condition. (c) Endosulfan degradation in
miniature soil reactors at the end of 28 days in aerobic condition; (d) in facultative anaerobic condition.
362 M. kumar, L. Philip / Journal of Hazardous Materials B136 (2006) 354364
Table 3
Endosulfan degradation in bench scale soil reactors for different soils
Type of Moisture Endosulfan degradation after 28 days Endosulfan remaining in Endosulfan remaining in the blank
soil content (%) in different ports of the reactors (%) the leachate (mg/L) (%) reactor after 28 days (%)
Top Middle Bottom Top Middle Bottom Leachate (mg/L) (%)
Red soil 38 1 92.13 0.16 94.80 0.22 95.48 0.17 3.7 0.027 (0.185) 81 0.13 103 0.26 110 0.30 4.2 0.025 (0.21)
CS-Ia 38 1 89.46 0.21 84.61 0.17 96.03 0.23 1.9 0.012 (0.095) 89 0.21 99 0.24 105 0.17 3.41 0.018 (0.17)
CS-IIa 45 1 91.41 0.24 94.83 0.20 94.84 0.19 2.67 0.022 (0.133) 84 0.24 96 0.22 113 0.25 4.68 0.021 (0.23)
a Composted soil.
were operated in saturated condition; hence the concentration of made to change the soil pH during the bench scale soil reactor
endosulfan in the liquid phase was also analyzed to observe the studies.
endosulfan degradation in the liquid by the microbial consor- During the operation, the simulated bioreactor has shown two
tium. Initially, liquid phase endosulfan concentration (leachate) distinct zones, i.e. top of the reactor was in aerobic condition,
was observed more in sandy soil followed by red soil, com- whereas, bottom layers were in anaerobic condition. The entry of
post soil and clay soil reactors whereas during operation the air to the bottom layers may be restricted due to the compaction
endosulfan degradation in the liquid phase was observed in the of soil and no attempts were made to supply the air in the bot-
reverse order. Endosulfan degradation (soil phase and liquid tom zone of the reactors. The loss in moisture in the reactor was
phase) in the miniature soil reactors at the end of 28 days in
aerobic and anaerobic conditions are given in Fig. 8(c) and (d),
respectively.
It was observed from our earlier studies that the attrac-
tion/influence of endosulfan molecules towards the clay particles
was high which might have reduced the availability of endosul-
fan for the microorganisms [19]. This may be the reason for
the decrease in endosulfan degradation efficiency in clayey soil
reactors.
[20] Mathava Kumar, Ligy Philip, Enrichment and isolation of [22] T.F. Guerin, The anaerobic degradation of endosulfan by indigenous
a mixed bacterial culture for complete mineralization of microorganisms from low-oxygen soils and sediments, Environ. Pollut.
endosulfan, J. Environ. Sci. Health, B 41 (1) (2006) 81 106 (1999) 1321.
96. [23] G. Kwon, J. Kim, T. Kim, H. Sohn, S. Koh, K. Shin, D. Kim, Kleb-
[21] N. Awasthi, R. Ahuja, A. Kumar, Factors influencing the degradation of siella pneumoniae KE-1 degrades endosulfan without formation of the
soil applied endosulfan isomers, Soil Biol. Biochem. 32 (11/12) (2000) toxic metabolite, endosulfan sulfate, FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 215 (2002)
16971705. 255259.