The Role of Metal-Bacteria Interactions in the Degradation of Pesticides
This study examines the adsorption of Fe(II) at the aqueous-bacteria interface and assesses the effect of Fe(II) adsorption on redox reactivity with oxamyl, a widely-used carbamate pesticide, while utilizing a model anaerobic bacterium, Shewanella oneidensis strain MR-1. Experimental work encompassed several methods, including anaerobic bacterial growth and preparation, Fe(II) adsorption edge experiments, and kinetic experiments of oxamyl degradation. The first hypothesis that the concentration of adsorbed Fe(II) would increase with increasing solution pH was confirmed by experimental results. However, the hypothesis that the rate of oxamyl reduction by Fe(II) would increase with increasing Fe(II) adsorption could not be verified since the observed degradation rates were not significantly different between Fe(II)-bacteria suspensions and Fe(II)-free bacteria suspensions. More extensive research is necessary to validate the hypotheses presented.
School:
Southern University and A&M College at Baton Rouge
Department:
Chemistry
Research Advisor:
Timothy Strathmann
Department of Research Advisor:
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Year of Publication:
2004