A Remediation Technique for Removal of Fenvalerate from Contaminated Soil

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Geetha, M. | Fulekar, M.H.

Affiliations: Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences University of Mumbai, Mumbai - 400 098, India | Department of Life Sciences, University of Mumbai, Mumbai - 400 098, India

Note: [] Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: Abstract: Fenvalerate is a synthetic pyrethroid used for controlling pests in agriculture. Fenvalerate has the property to adsorb soil particles and when it comes in contact with aqueous environment causes pollution leading to the toxicity in soil-water environment. The technique for removal of fenvalerate from soil has been developed in the present study. Fenvalerate is amended in the soil at varying concentration viz. 25 ppm, 50 ppm and 100 ppm and taken in the surface soil treatment unit. The activated cow-dung slurry is used as a source of microbial consortium for bioremediation of fenvalerate amended soil. The physico-chemical parameters have been maintained for bioremediation of fenvalerate in contaminated surface soil. The research finding shows that the fenvalerate was degrading over a period of seven days with the formation of prominent intermediates such as 4-chloro-alpha (1-methylethyl) benzene acetic acid and 3-phenoxy-benzoic acid. These intermediates are less toxic than the parent compound and further on longer acclimatization in the environment would be mineralized into inorganic, biomass and CO_2. This technique has been proved successful for bioremediation of pesticides in particular fenvalerate from contaminated agricultural surface soil.

Keywords: Fenvalerate, bioremediation, activated biomass, surface soil, treatment unit

Journal: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution, vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 85-91, 2010