Biodegradation kinetics of endosulfan by Fusarium ventricosum and a Pandoraea species.

Endosulfan, classified as an organochlorine pesticide, is rated by the U.S. EPA as a Category 1 pesticide with extremely high acute toxicity. This study describes the biodegradation kinetics of endosulfan and the metabolic pathway utilized by Fusarium ventricosum and a Pandoraea sp. Complete disappearance of both alpha- and beta-endosulfan was observed during 12 days of incubation with F. ventricosum in flasks containing 100 mg L(-)(1) of endosulfan. The rate constants (k) for biodegradation of alpha- and beta-endosulfan by F. ventricosum using zero-order kinetics were 14.22 and 6.60 mg L(-)(1) day(-)(1), respectively. The Pandoraea sp. degraded about 95 and 100% of alpha- and beta-endosulfan, respectively, in 18 days of incubation in flasks spiked with 100 mg L(-)(1) of endosulfan. The rate constants (k) for biodegradation of alpha- and beta-endosulfan by the Pandoraea sp. were 8.19 and 3.78 mg L(-)(1) day(-)(1), respectively. Both fungal and bacterial strains formed less toxic endosulfan diol and endosulfan ether as metabolites during metabolism of endosulfan. The results of this study suggest that these novel strains may be used for the bioremediation of endosulfan-contaminated sites.