Phytoremediation of 2,4-dichlorophenol by Brassica napus hairy root cultures

• Published in: Biotechnology and applied biochemistry Vol. 37; no. 2; pp. 139 - 144
• Main Authors: Agostini, Elizabeth, Coniglio, María S., Milrad, Silvia R., Tigier, Horacio A., Giulietti, Ana M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-04-2003; Portland Press
• Subjects: 2,4-dichlorophenol; Biodegradation of pollutants; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Brassica napus; Brassica napus - drug effects; Brassica napus - enzymology; Brassica napus - metabolism; Chlorophenols - pharmacokinetics; contaminant removal; Culture Techniques; Environment and pollution; Environmental Pollution - prevention & control; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hydrogen Peroxide - pharmacology; in vitro culture; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Peroxidase - metabolism; peroxidase isoenzyme; phenolic compounds; Plant Roots - drug effects; Plant Roots - enzymology; Plant Roots - metabolism; Soil Pollutants - metabolism; turnip; Water Pollutants, Chemical - metabolism; Hairy root; Enzyme; Tissue culture; Biological purification; Phytoremediation; Pollutant; Peroxidases; Cruciferae; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Liquid effluent; Plant origin; Brassica napus; Phenols; Spermatophyta; Oxidoreductases; Bioremediation; Waste water purification; Oil plant (vegetal)
• ISSN: 0885-4513; 1470-8744
• DOI: 10.1042/BA20020079

We have obtained hairy root cultures of Brassica napus with high biomass and genetic stability which produce peroxidases, enzymes involved in biodegradation processes. In this work, these hairy root cultures were used to study the removal of 2,4‐dichlorophenol (2,4‐DCP), a common contaminant in industrial effluents that is highly toxic for human and aquatic life. The optimum conditions to obtain high efficiency in the removal process were established. Roots were able to remove 2,4‐DCP from aqueous solutions containing 100–1000 mg/l, in the presence of H2O2 concentrations ranging from 5 to 10 mM. After a short period of incubation (15 min), high removal efficiencies were achieved (91–94%) and maximal removal, of approx. 97–98%, was obtained with 1 h of reaction. High removal efficiencies (93–95%) were observed in a broad pH range (pH 3–9), reaching 98–99% in the range pH 4–8. Moreover, roots could be re‐used, almost for six consecutive cycles, to remove 2,4‐DCP. The oxidation catalysed by peroxidases would be the main mechanism involved in this process. The results suggest that these cultures could be useful tools for phytoremediation.