Mineralization of diuron [3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1, 1-dimethylurea] by co-immobilized Arthrobacter sp. and Delftia acidovorans.

Mineralization of diuron has not been previously demonstrated despite the availability of some bacteria to degrade diuron into 3,4-dichloroaniline (3,4-DCA) and others that can mineralize 3,4-DCA. A bacterial co-culture of Arthrobacter sp. N4 and Delftia acidovorans W34, which respectively degraded diuron (20 mg l(-1)) to 3,4-DCA and mineralized 3,4-DCA, were able to mineralize diuron. Total diuron mineralization (20 mg l(-1)) was achieved with free cells in co-culture. When the bacteria were immobilized (either one bacteria or both), the degradation rate was higher. Best results were obtained with free Arthrobacter sp. N4 cells co-cultivated with immobilized cells of D. acidovorans W34 (mineralization of diuron in 96 h, i.e., 0.21 mg l(-1 )h(-1) vs. 0.06 mg l(-1 )h(-1) with free cells in co-culture).