Immobilization of Acinetobacter sp. A-1 and Applicability in Removal of Difenoconazole from Water–Sediment Systems

Summary

Scientists discovered a bacterium that can break down difenoconazole, a fungicide widely used in agriculture. They trapped these bacteria in tiny gel beads to make them more stable and effective at cleaning up contaminated water and soil. The immobilized bacteria were more resilient and broke down the pesticide more efficiently than free bacteria, offering a promising natural solution for cleaning up fungicide pollution in the environment.

Background

Difenoconazole is a widely used triazole fungicide for controlling fungal diseases in crops, but its environmental persistence and residues raise concerns about toxicity to non-target organisms. Microbial degradation offers an environmentally friendly approach to pesticide remediation, and immobilization technology can enhance the effectiveness and stability of degrading microorganisms in complex environmental systems.

Objective

This study aimed to isolate and characterize difenoconazole-degrading bacteria, optimize degradation conditions, and evaluate the effectiveness of immobilized bacterial cells in removing difenoconazole from water-sediment systems. The researchers sought to develop a practical bioremediation strategy using immobilized microbial technology.

Results

Strain A-1 degraded 62.43% of 50 mg/L difenoconazole within seven days. Optimal degradation conditions were pH 6.94, 55.71 mg/L difenoconazole concentration, and 1.97% inoculation, achieving 79.30% degradation efficiency. Immobilized strain A-1 showed superior stability and reduced the half-life of difenoconazole in sterilized water-sediment systems to 3.20 days, with 65.26% degradation efficiency.

Conclusion

Acinetobacter sp. A-1 is a promising candidate for difenoconazole biodegradation. Immobilization technology using sodium alginate significantly enhanced the strain’s environmental adaptability, stability, and bioremediation efficiency in water-sediment systems. This approach presents a practical and safe strategy for environmental remediation of difenoconazole contamination.
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