Developing Specialized Bacterial Consortia for Enhanced Biodegradation of Chlorpyrifos in Dairy Farms in Nakuru County
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Date
2024-08-15
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Published by Canadian Center of Science and Education
Abstract
Chlorpyrifos (CP), a widely used organophosphate in Kenya, poses significant human health risks due to its high
solubility. This study aimed to isolate CP-degrading bacteria from dairy farm soils in Nakuru County and
develop bacterial consortia for efficient degradation. Soil samples were collected from six sub-counties: Molo,
Njoro, Rongai, Subukia, Gilgil, and Naivasha. The enrichment culture technique using minimal salt medium
(MSM) was employed to isolate CP-degrading bacterial strains. Seven bacterial strains were identified:
Alcaligenes faecalis, Bacillus weihenstephanensis, Bacillus toyonensis, Alcaligenes sp., Pseudomonas sp.,
Pseudomonas japonicum, and Brevundimonas diminuta. Bacillus weihenstephanensis exhibited the highest
individual degradation efficiency at 79.8%. Consortia treatments demonstrated enhanced degradation, with
consortia M1, M2, and M3 achieving removal efficiencies of 91.3%, 92.48%, and 93.76%, respectively, and M5
achieving 95.32%. The study also monitored 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCP), a CP metabolite, showing that
consortia treatments significantly reduced TCP levels to near initial concentrations. Kinetic analysis revealed
consortia had significantly shorter half-lives for CP degradation compared to individual isolates, indicating
improved bioremediation potential. The findings underscore the potential of using tailored bacterial consortia for
effective bioremediation of CP-contaminated environments. Future research should focus on field trials to
validate these laboratory findings under real-world conditions and explore the genetic and enzymatic
mechanisms underlying CP degradation.
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Keywords
Keywords: chlorpyrifos, bioremediation, bacterial consortia, environmental contamination, organophosphate degradation