Higher biodegradation rate of atrazine by Paenarthrobacter sp. KN0901 with P-doped hydrochar: The important role of biofilm regulated by autoinducer-2 regulated quorum sensing during the degradation process

Abstract

The presence of atrazine residue in runoff from agricultural areas poses a significant risk to the ecosystem. This study aimed to develop microorganism-material systems using the atrazine-degrading strain Paenarthrobacter sp. KN0901 and P-doped hydrochar to effectively remove atrazine residues from aquatic environments. The atrazine degradation rate increased by 22.6 % with the addition of P-doped hydrochar after three days of incubation at 15 °C. Autoinducer-2 activity increased from 100 % to 116.7 % with P-doped hydrochar addition, indicating improved quorum sensing compared to free microorganisms. The extracellular polymeric substance content was significantly higher in the PHC groups compared to the blank groups, suggesting enhanced biofilm formation. Quorum sensing was inhibited by the use of nitazoxanide and sodium nitroprusside, leading to decreased atrazine degradation. In contrast, the presence of glucose and S-adenosyl methionine enhanced the rate of atrazine degradation due to elevated quorum sensing. These results suggested that P-doped hydrochar enhanced strain KN0901′s ability to assemble, increasing quorum sensing and accelerating atrazine degradation. Additionally, P-doped hydrochar promoted atrazine degradation by strain KN0901 under various conditions by enhancing quorum sensing. This work offers a new perspective on developing and using bioremediation techniques to remediate atrazine-contaminated environments under diverse conditions.