A free-enzyme catalyst for the bioremediation of environmental atrazine contamination

Colin Scott*, Steve E. Lewis, Rob Milla, Matthew C. Taylor, Andrew J.W. Rodgers, Geoff Dumsday, Jon E. Brodie, John G. Oakeshott, Robyn J. Russell

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

48 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Herbicide contamination from agriculture is a major issue worldwide, and has been identified as a threat to freshwater and marine environments in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area in Australia. The triazine herbicides are of particular concern because of potential adverse effects, both on photosynthetic organisms and upon vertebrate development. To date a number of bioremediation strategies have been proposed for triazine herbicides, but are unlikely to be implemented due to their reliance upon the release of genetically modified organisms. We propose an alternative strategy using a free-enzyme bioremediant, which is unconstrained by the issues surrounding the use of live organisms. Here we report an initial field trial with an enzyme-based product, demonstrating that the technology is technically capable of remediating water bodies contaminated with the most common triazine herbicide, atrazine.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2075-2078
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of Environmental Management
Volume91
Issue number10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2010
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • chlorohydrolase
  • hydrolase
  • triazine
  • field trial
  • herbicide remediation

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