Co-metabolic degradation of bensulfuron-methyl in laboratory conditions

The present study deals with the degradation of bensulfuron-methyl by microorganisms cultured with different sources of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus. Addition of carbon source accelerated the degradation of bensulfuron-methyl under co-metabolism process. Sodium lactate was the best carbon source for the degradation of bensulfuron-methyl, compared to other carbon sources studied, and the degradation ratio of bensulfuron-methyl reached 79.5%, whereas only 34.6 and 29.7% were removed in the presence of glucose and sucrose, respectively. Supplement of nitrogen source also enhanced degradation of bensulfuron-methyl. However, no significant differences were observed in the loss of bensulfuron-methyl between organic nitrogen and inorganic source. Phosphate buffer was supplemented into the media to maintain neutral conditions for the advantage of the strain growth since increase in pH value was observed. An orthogonal array design was applied to arrange main factors singled out for investigating the influence of factor and interaction between them on the degradation of bensulfuron-methyl. Statistical analysis showed that the concentration of sodium lactate, bensulfuron-methyl and inoculum size were the main effects, and the interaction of sodium lactate and bensulfuron-methyl was of statistical significance.