Phytoremediation of 2,4-dichlorophenol by Brassica napus hairy root cultures

ELIZABETH AGOSTINI; MARIA S. CONIGLIO; SILVIA MILRAD; HORACIO TIGIER; ANA M GIULIETTI

BIOTECHNOLOGY AND APPLIED BIOCHEMISTRY

PORTLAND PRESS LTD

Lugar: Gran Bretaña; Año: 2003 vol. 37 p. 139 - 144

0885-4513

We have obtained hairy root cultures of Brassica napusBrassica napus with high biomass and genetic stability which produce peroxidases, enzymes involved in biodegradation processes. In this work, these hairy root cultures were used to study the removal of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP), a common contaminant in industrial effluents that is highly toxic for human and aquatic life. The optimum conditions to obtain high efficiency in the removal process were established. Roots were able to remove 2,4-DCP from aqueous solutions containing 100– 1000 mg/l, in the presence ofH2O2 concentrations ranging from 5 to 10 mM. After a short period of incubation (15 min), high removal efficiencies were achieved (91–94%) and maximal removal, of approx. 97–98%, was obtained with 1 h of reaction. High removal efficiencies (93–95%) were observed in a broad pH range (pH 3–9), reaching 98–99% in the range pH 4–8. Moreover, roots could be re-used, almost for six consecutive cycles, to remove 2,4-DCP. The oxidation catalysed by peroxidases would be the main mechanism involved in this process. The results suggest that these cultures could be useful tools for phytoremediation2O2 concentrations ranging from 5 to 10 mM. After a short period of incubation (15 min), high removal efficiencies were achieved (91–94%) and maximal removal, of approx. 97–98%, was obtained with 1 h of reaction. High removal efficiencies (93–95%) were observed in a broad pH range (pH 3–9), reaching 98–99% in the range pH 4–8. Moreover, roots could be re-used, almost for six consecutive cycles, to remove 2,4-DCP. The oxidation catalysed by peroxidases would be the main mechanism involved in this process. The results suggest that these cultures could be useful tools for phytoremediation