Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) mediated degradation of organophosphate T pesticides by the green microalgae Coccomyxa subellipsoidea☆

Authors

• Timothy J Nicodemus, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
• Concetta C. DiRusso, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
• Mark A. Wilson, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
• Paul N. Black, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2020

Citation

Bioresource Technology Reports 11 (2020)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biteb.2020.100461

Comments

2020 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to define the mechanism allowing the green alga Coccomyxa subellipsoidea to break down organophosphates from agricultural run-off. This study found that metabolically active cultures of the microalga C. subellipsoidea breakdown organophosphates (paraoxon, malathion and diazinon) with differing structural conformations in freshwater through a mechanism that requires the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) with little to no toxic effects on the algae. Under these conditions, organophosphate levels were reduced to 0.1 mg/mL or less over the 8–10 day experimental period. These findings demonstrate a biological- based system can be tailored for the remediation of organophosphates from agricultural run-off in waterways for long-term sustainability that also includes bioproduct development from the algal biomass. These finding are expected to have significant impacts using this biological based technology for the remediation of organopho- sphates in water for downstream applications.