Kinetics of Endosulfan Biodegradation by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia EN-1 Isolated From Pesticide-Contaminated Soil

ABSTRACTEndosulfan is one of the persistent organochlorinated pesticides used extensively throughout the world, particularly in the developing countries. Its microbial metabolic transformation product endosulfan sulphate is more toxic and persistent than the parent compound itself. In order to completely mineralize endosulfan, augmentation of soil microbial community with efficient endosulfan degradation properties could a potentially viable option. In the present study, endosulfan degrading bacterium was isolated from the agriculture-contaminated soil of Shujaabad, Multan, Pakistan by using enrichment technique. The isolated bacterial strain EN-1 (Endosulfan-1) was identified as S. maltophilia by 16S rRNA sequencing and biochemical analysis. EN-1 has demonstrated the ability to utilize endosulfan as sole sulfur source. Kinetics of endosulfan degradation was studied at various initial concentrations ranges from 5 mg/L to 100 mg/L by growth dependent and growth independent kinetic models. Biodegradation ki...