Enhancing atrazine biodegradation by Pseudomonas sp. strain ADP adsorption to Layered Double Hydroxide bionanocomposites

Abstract

To mimic the role of hydroxide minerals and their humic complex derivatives on the biodegradability of pesticides in soils, synthetic Mg R Al Layered Double Hydroxides (LDH) and Mg R Al modified by Humic substances (LDH–HA) were prepared for various R values (2, 3 and 4) and fully characterized. Adsorption properties of LDH and LDH–HA toward Pseudomonas sp. strain ADP were evaluated. The adsorption kinetics were very fast (<5 min to reach equilibrium). The adsorption capacities were greater than previously reported (13.5 × 10 11, 41 × 10 11 and 45.5 × 10 11 cells/g LDH for Mg 2Al, Mg 3Al and Mg 4Al, respectively) and varied with both surface charge and textural properties. Surface modification by HA reduced the adsorption capacities of cells by 2–6-fold. Biodegradation kinetics of atrazine by Pseudomonas sp. adsorbed on both LDHs and LDH–HA complexes were measured for various solid/liquid ratios and adsorbed cell amounts. Biodegradation activity of bacterial cells was strongly boosted after adsorption on LDHs, the effect depending on the quantity and properties of the LDH matrix. The maximum biodegradation rate was obtained in the case of a 100 mg/mL Mg 2Al LDH suspension (26 times higher than that obtained with cells alone).