Bioremediation of Chemical Pesticides - A Novel Enzymatic Approach
Chemical pesticides are widely used in various applications. In the absence of appropriate technology, the current practice is to let pesticide-contaminated water go into the creeks and ground water. Orica Australia in collaboration with CSIRO Entomology has developed an enzyme technology for the treatment of contaminated soil, irrigation run-off, effluent from agricultural processors, post harvest and stock dips, used pesticide containers and contaminated solutions arising from the washing of pesticide application equipment.
Organophosphorus peticides have been used in significant quantity since the introduction of a synthetic insecticide, parathion in 1944 (Creuzet and Cattaneo, 1982). It is estimated that 12 million kilograms of organophosphate active ingredients were used in the US during 2004 (www.beyondpesticides.org). This suggests extensive use of pesticides. Considering the need to develop technology, Orica Australia has successfully scaled-up the process to manufacture organophosphate degrading enzyme (LandguardTM).
Landguard OP-A is an enzyme based product that results in the rapid hydrolysis of a range of organophosphate pesticides.
Field and laboratory trials have demonstrated that the application of Landguard OP-A will consistently reduce organophosphate concentrations to very low levels within a short time period. For example, Landguard OP-A will consistently reduce diazinon concentration in used stock dip from approximately 100,000 mg/L to approximately 1 mg/L within 3 hours.
A range of other enzyme based products for the treatment of various chemical groups, including the synthetic pyrethroids, are currently being evaluated in field trials.
Landguard OP-A has been classed as a new industrial chemical and was approved for use by the US EPA during early 2006. LandguardTM is now available for commercial applications.