Response surface methodology to understand the anaerobic biodegradation of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in contaminated soil—significance of nitrate conce...

Abstract

Abstract Purpose Problems associated with Organochlorine pesticide (OCP)-contaminated soils have received wide attention. To understand the anaerobic biodegradation process constraints, innovative mathematical analysis methods are effective. Materials and methods Response surface methodology (RSM) and Tenax TA extraction method combined with the first-three-compartment model were employed to systematically investigate the role of nitrate concentration and bioaccessibility enhancer (methyl-β-cyclodextrin, MCD) in the anaerobic biodegradation of OCPs in contaminated soil. Results and discussion The sole addition of either KNO 3 or MCD could facilitate the anaerobic biodegradation of OCPs. The highest biodegradation for total OCPs, hexachlorocyclohexanes, endosulfans, and chlordanes were 71.6, 82.1, 68.3, and 55.6%, respectively, when 20 mM KNO 3 and 3.0%(w/w) MCD were …